Motivator's groom James Cronin, 38, dies in tragic accident in Newmarket

Racing is mourning the loss of James Cronin after the groom who looked after 2005 Derby winner Motivator died in an accident in Newmarket on Tuesday morning.

Cronin, 38, fell down the stairs and suffered a fatal injury while staying at a friend's house in the town during the Tattersalls December Sales.

After spending many years with Motivator's trainer Michael Bell, Cronin went back to his native Ireland and became a familiar face on the sales circuit, recently with Baroda Stud and Overbury Stud.

Cronin, from Dublin, was staying with fellow Derby-winning lad Dickie McCabe, who looked after Shergar, at the time of his death and leaves three young children and a partner at home in Ireland as well as his mother Anita.

McCabe said: "He was staying with me and was just off to work when he must have fallen down the stairs and I found him a short while after. It's so sad as he was only a young lad with a young family and he had his whole life ahead of him."

Close family friend Alan Burns said: "It's devastating to lose James as everyone knew him at the sales and it's where he lived his life. He has three small children at home and little money, so we've set up a Facebook page to help out."

Tamso Doyle, of Baroda Stud, has also set up a funding page to raise money to help Cronin's family with funeral expenses and support his children. The initial aim was €20,000 but an incredible response from the racing community had pushed the sum raised to almost €35,000 on Thursday afternoon. The biggest single donation was €1,200 from Ascot racecourse.

Bell said: "It's a great shock to hear what happened to James and our thoughts are very much with his family and children at this time. We had a memorable time together with Motivator and that day at Epsom will long live in the memory with everyone at Fitzroy House."

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