Racing turns out in force for funeral of Classic-winning trainer Bill Elsey

It was a full church at All Saints, Settrington on Thursday as racing and the local Ryedale community paid their final tributes to dual Classic-winning trainer Bill Elsey, who died aged 97 on January 2.

The village, on the outskirts of Malton, is just a few miles from Highfield Stables where Elsey and his father before him trained with such great success. Victories in the Oaks with Pia in 1967 and the St Leger with Peleid in 1973 were the highlights of his 35-year career.

In his eulogy, Elsey's son Charlie said his father's initial love was flying.

He said: "He joined the RAF in 1940 and in the war he flew in north Africa, Burma and then Europe and was mentioned in dispatches. On one occasion he was shot down in the Sahara but he and his crew managed to make their way back to Egypt despite having minimal rations. After that father claimed that it was possible to survive on your own urine.

"After the war he was granted his commercial pilot's licence and took part in the Berlin airlift in 1948-9, but he eventually gave up flying and returned to Yorkshire to become assistant to his father.

"He took over the licence in 1961 and hit the ground running with several big-race successes such as Eclipse winner Henry The Seventh and Sostenuto who won the Ebor. In 1964 he sent out 82 winners.

"Throughout his career he had that great knack of improving horses, turning many a handicapper into a Group horse. After he retired he devoted more time to his hobby of woodwork, and many a household in Ryedale have a Bill Elsey lamp or table. He was also a very good shot, a mean tennis player and a very accomplished skier."

Bill Elsey: trainer of two Classic winners

Charlie Elsey recalled that Highfield had its own gallops, which were second to none, and before the Lincoln in 1986 another trainer asked if he could use it as a final gallop for his horse.

He added: "My father had K-Battery in the race so the two worked together but K-Battery was a bit disappointing.

"After the other team had gone away feeling quite pleased, Jimmy Eddery who was riding K-Battery lifted up his leg and revealed a heavy weight cloth. K-Battery duly won the Lincoln."

The trainer's son closed his address by saying his father was a person who had lived life to the full.

He added: "He was charming, witty, always had a glint in his eye and did everything right."

Among those present were trainers James Bethell, Tim FitzGerald, John Quinn and Julie Camacho, former trainers Peter Easterby, Charles Booth, Bill Haigh, Jack Berry, Tim Etherington and Keith Stone and former jockeys Edward Hide and George Cadwaladr.

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