Sister of Henrietta Knight and prominent owner-breeder Lady Vestey dies aged 71

Lady Vestey, a successful owner and breeder and the younger sister of former trainer Henrietta Knight, has died at the age of 71.

Born Celia Elizabeth Knight, she was married to former Cheltenham racecourse chairman Lord Vestey, with whom she celebrated Stayers' Hurdle success in 1997 with Karshi.

That horse was trained by her sister, as was Maximize, who carried Lady Vestey's own colours when landing the Grade 1 Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day in 2001.

Her Drumadowney, trained by Tim Forster, was the champion novice chaser of 1984-85 when he won the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot and finished fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after leading for most of the way. But he was temperamental and tailed himself off on his only two subsequent starts.

Lady Vestey ran Stowell Park Stud, which bred Karshi and the remarkable mare Cashew who threw ten winners – including Macadamia, who landed the Royal Hunt Cup and Falmouth Stakes in 2003.

James Fanshawe: 'It's really sad news'Credit: Edward Whitaker

That filly's trainer James Fanshawe said on Wednesday: "Lord and Lady Vestey have been owners here since I started and I knew them from my time with David Nicholson. They've been great supporters and it's really sad news.

"Lady Vestey was a wonderful person and so enthusiastic. She was very kind and whenever she came everyone was pleased to see her because she was always interested in the staff and what they were up to."

She suffered a serious stroke in 1995 but Fanshawe said: "In spite of that, she was always in good form wherever you saw her. She loved her horses and we had a lot of fun together."

Lady Vestey was godmother to the Duke of Sussex and a death notice published in the Daily Telegraph reads: "Celia Elizabeth SRN BA. Died suddenly, but peacefully, on Saturday 28th November, aged 71 years.

"Adored wife of Sam. Much loved mother of William, Arthur and Mary and loving Granny of Ella, Frankie, Sam and Cosima. Private family funeral. Memorial service later."

In a poignant nod to Lady Vestey's lifelong love of horses, the notice adds: "Family flowers only please, but donations gratefully received in Celia's memory to Ebony Horse Club."