Tributes pour in from Johnston yard after death of employee Hari Singh Bhati

The Mark Johnston team has paid a touching tribute to Hari Singh Bhati, a long-serving and key employee at their Middleham yard who died on Thursday at the age of 41.

Bhati, who joined Johnston's operation in North Yorkshire in April 2008, suffered a heart attack during his annual visit home to India and leaves a wife and two children.

He became a familiar face on British racecourses over the years, being responsible for leading up plenty of the stable's winners.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said on Saturday morning: "Hari was with us for a long time and a lot of people had got to know and see him on the racecourse.

"He was an assistant yard manager, but one of our best lead-up people and would have been one of the first names down to be leading up high-profile runners at all the big meetings. He spent a lot of time racing and then he was an assistant yard manager when at home.

"I can't believe how far our Facebook post has gone. About 50,000 people have seen it, which goes to show what people thought of Hari and what kind of person he was."

Hari Singh Bhati with a Johnston runner at Royal AscotCredit: Mark Johnston Racing

Johnston added: "He led up plenty of Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood winners and was a highly regarded member of the team. No task was too much to ask and he would always go above and beyond the call of duty.

"Hari had a great attitude to work and enjoyed his job, and I think that positive outlook – at the yard and on course – is what has washed over to plenty of our owners, people in racing and the general public judging by the response to that Facebook post.

"He was back home in India, where he went every year for ten weeks, and our thoughts are with his family and friends."