Warren Greatrex to lead team of racing figures in charity hike after praising incredible support received following yard tragedies

In dark times, you really discover just how close-knit and supportive the racing community is in Lambourn.

Tragically, those connected to the Warren Greatrex yard have suffered darker times than most of us could ever imagine in recent years. Three young members of staff – Michael Pitt, David Thompson and most recently Billy Moffatt – have died in the last five years, all having tragically taken their own lives.

But the Lambourn community has been there for Greatrex and his team every step of the way and at the heart of that support has been the charity Racing Welfare, for whom Greatrex and other villagers are now raising vital funds as they work towards a marathon hike on Sunday, July 6.

Racing Welfare, which has a branch located in the heart of Lambourn on the high street, is a non-profit organisation that provides support for those who work in or have retired from the racing industry. It plays a significant role in the Lambourn community and Greatrex describes the support the charity has offered to his team following the tragedies as “top-class”.

“They’ve been incredible, especially over the last five years,” he says. “They’ve been so supportive over the three cases, and they’ve been here within minutes. They’ve supported everyone here and I don’t just mean on the day, they’ve been fully there all the time. 

“It’s a small part in what they do and they’re a charity that needs help because they do so much throughout the racing industry. I think some people feel they focus on just the racing side of things, but it’s not, they deal with everyone young and old.”

Warren Greatrex: taking part in a 22-mile trek to raise funds for Racing WelfareCredit: Getty Images

Billy Moffatt’s death last month rocked Lambourn, with Greatrex describing him as “a very sociable guy”, who knew many people throughout the village.

Greatrex said: “He was very friendly, he was a lot of fun, and he knew a lot of young lads and lasses both in and out of the sport in the village. Everyone knows everybody here and you obviously have to try to get on with everyone here, but Billy made a big impact in the village, so when something like this happens then it affects everyone, even those who just pass him in the street.”

Greatrex is now captaining a team of racing figures in a 22-mile guided trek from Scarborough Castle to Whitby Abbey, taking the team along the coastal Cleveland Way and through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

Edward Smyth-Osbourne, who trains just a mile away from Greatrex at Frenchman’s House Stables, is part of the team of walkers, alongside the likes of former Windsor House handler Harry Dunlop, his wife Christina Dunlop, Sophie Portman [wife of Jonathan] and Philippa Hills [wife of Charlie]. Richard Chugg, Alice Fillery, Cameron Crawford-Smith, Davina Vigors, Charlie Bishop and James Luck are also part of the team, which is called The Lambourn Wanderers.

Greatrex explains: “There’s a gang of us from the Lambourn area. We’ve got Ed, Philippa, Lexie Leeming, who is Archie Watson’s sister, and her husband Will, so it’s something that should be a bit of fun.

“It’s 22 miles of very hilly terrain, so it won’t be easy, but it’s my chance to give back to a charity that does an incredible amount of work in racing. If I can help, then I will do as much as I can.

“There were a few ideas that came up. They were trying to get a boxing tournament going and I put my name forward, but thankfully that didn’t go ahead. So when I was asked to do this I was very keen because I want to give back.”

There are close to 100 people from across Britain taking part in the charity walk on Sunday week, with a mammoth £60,000 the target. Greatrex’s team has set itself a goal of £10,000 and has collected over £7,500 so far.

• You can find out more about the Lambourn Wanderers and donate via their fundraising page here

“People all around the country are helping, which is seriously good,” he says. “Racing Welfare are based here, so you always know they’re around. They put on other charity events and there’s also an inter-yard rounders tournament in the village.

“They help as much as they can to be out there and to be out in the community. It’s not just in Lambourn, though. You only have to see the amount of people doing their bit for them because everyone knows how much work they do and everyone wants to help them as much as they can.”

Read this next:

'Racing Welfare got me back on track' - London Marathon bid for Tattersalls' Ross Birkett 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.