Tributes flow for 'amazing lady' after joint-owner of Aldaniti and staunch jumps supporter Valda Embiricos dies aged 92

British jump racing has lost one of its staunchest supporters with the death of groundbreaking matriarch Valda Embiricos, who is perhaps best known as joint-owner with her husband Nick of 1981 Grand National winner Aldaniti.

Embiricos, who died at home at her Barkfold Manor Stud in West Sussex last Wednesday aged 92, was an owner-breeder from a family steeped in jump racing and backed the sport to the very end, even having horses in training with Ben Pauling at the time of her death.

Embiricos was a pioneer in many fields. She was one of the first ladies to ride against men in point-to-points and one of the first females to be elected to the Jockey Club in 1987 in company with her cousin Dana Brudenell-Bruce. Alongside that she found time to be a steward at Goodwood, Ascot and Fontwell and also sat on the BHA licensing committee.

Two years prior to his remarkable win over Spartan Missile in the Grand National, the Josh Gifford-trained Aldaniti broke down in a race at Sandown and was going to be put down until Embiricos stepped in and took the horse home to Sussex from where she nursed him back to fitness.

Homecoming heroes: Bob and Aldaniti celebrate their National success at Downs Stables in Findon with Josh Gifford and Nick Embiricos (right)

Three generations of the family also rode winners of the Newmarket Town Plate, beginning with Valda's mother Eileen who was the first woman to win the marathon in 1925 before Valda was successful on Vulpes in 1955. Alex then brought up the family treble on Summons in 1984.

Outside of racing, Embiricos was involved in the eventing world and part-owned Miners Frolic, who won individual and team bronze for Great Britain at the Olympics in Hong Kong in 2008 and four years later won the team silver at London and overall was one of the most decorated eventers in Great Britain.

Her daughter Alex, herself a former successful trainer and jockey, said: “Mum was invincible, strong, fearsome, kind, patient, fair, stubborn, a fighter. Her will to live and to give was relentless to the very end. If mum was an elephant she would be the matriarch of all matriarchs. 

"She had a long, incredible and amazing life. I beg that I can try to fill those bottomless boots but I fear an espadrille is all I will manage."

As well as sharing in the glory at Aintree in 1981 with her husband Nick, Aldaniti's owner who died in 2018, Embiricos enjoyed many winners in her own colours including the Nick Gifford-trained Killaghy Castle, who won a Grade 3 novice handicap hurdle at Sandown in 2006. She and her husband also owned Brave Highlander, who came fourth to Papillon in the 2000 Grand National. 

Alex added of her mum’s racing pedigree: “Mum’s mum, Eileen Rogerson (neé Joel), owned Champion Hurdle winner Salmon Spray as well as Athens Wood, who won the St Leger with Lester Piggott on board. Her father John Rogerson owned Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Pas Seul."

Jamie Codd riding The Package to win at the 2015 Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Getty Images

In later years, Embiricos was always chasing a Cheltenham Festival winner and Alex added: "She greatly enjoyed success with Aldaniti with dad and I guess in a sense she did get her Cheltenham winner through breeding The Package a few years ago, but I know she dearly wanted to own one."

Pauling was among those to pay tribute and said: "Valda has been an incredibly special person to myself and [wife] Sophie. She supported us through our very early days with A Hare Breath and we had some fabulous days with him and many since. 

"More importantly, she has been a staunch supporter of the National Hunt game with all her horses and her parents' horses alike. She’s lived a wonderful life and was an incredibly courageous lady."

He added: "She’ll be a huge loss to her wonderful family as well as the racing industry but thankfully the racing bug and gene lives strong throughout the family. The horses will remain in training here and I’m sure we’ll see her colours carried to many more successes."

Slipway: won the Southern National at Fontwell in 2022Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Of the horses she has left behind, he said: "At the moment we have Slipway and a lovely new horse called Afancy Getaway who won a point-to-point last year. She was also involved in The Good Doctor and Sun Joy as part of syndicates. She’s been an amazing lady and will be missed by very many as she lived a full and fruitful life."

Richard Rowe rode many winners for Embiricos. He said: "She was one of the few really decent people around and will be very sadly missed by lots of people. It was an absolute pleasure and an honour to ride for her and she was the easiest owner I've dealt with in all my years of riding. We will miss her a lot."

As well as Alex, Valda leaves sons Alastair and Euan, a stepson Nick and four grandchildren.