Racing pays tribute after popular Cumbrian trainer Ken Slack dies at 51

Cumbrian trainer Ken Slack, who worked wonders with many cheaply bought horses during a relatively short career in racing, died on Thursday following a nine-month illness. He was 51.

Slack came to racing late in life but left a significant mark on the sport, churning out some impressive figures from a small string at his Stoneriggs base in Appleby.

He was part of a family active in racing with mother Evelyn a former permit-holder, father Arthur a successful breeder and owner and sister Dianne Sayer training at nearby Hackthorpe.

Sayer said: "He loved racing and certainly had a big impact when he did arrive on the scene, managing 23 jumps winners in his first full season from just a handful of horses. He finished that season with a 33 per cent strike-rate and took great satisfaction from sticking it to the bookies.

"His two favourite tracks were Cartmel and Sedgefield and it was a big thing for him winning the Cartmel Cup and the diamond necklace race with Beeno."

After taking out a licence in 2015, Slack registered his first winner in March that year when Grand Vintage carried his father's colours to victory at Catterick. He trained 48 winners over jumps and 14 on the Flat with nine-time scorer Tonto's Spirit another of his better-known performers.

Slack, a livestock farmer who started out in harness racing, had been ill since the start of last summer but still made trips to the races, including as recently as New Year's Day.

"He was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in June last year and was very determined to give it the best possible fight he could," said Sayer.

"His family and his horses were what kept him going. He had time for everyone and was a big character who made a lasting impression on anyone he met."

Slack ripped up the manual when it came to training, tailoring diets and training techniques to each horse in his care. He gave his horses goat's milk, honey and Guinness and spent a lot of time working them in an arena while driving his quad bike.

Flat trainer Dave Loughnane completed his training modules alongside Slack and the pair became good friends. "Ken was a very positive person and would brighten up a room with his smile when he walked into it," he said.

"He was a happy-go-lucky guy and an absolute gentleman. He did things very differently to everyone else but knew his horses inside out and was very shrewd. He loved to be told one of his horses couldn't win, as you could guarantee they would win numerous races after that."

Slack is survived by his wife Nicola and two children, George and Anna. Plans are in place for the Stoneriggs stable to continue to operate with daughter Anna assuming the role of assistant trainer and the horses running under Sayer's name.

The funeral will be at St Lawrence's Church in Appleby-in-Westmorland at 11am on Friday, March 8.

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