Worldwide condolences poured in at the funeral for horse trainer Alan Bailey following his passing
Alan Bailey's Funeral Marks the End of a Legendary Training Career
Alan Bailey, affectionately known as the Captain, was laid to rest on Thursday at St Mary's Church in Newmarket, with nearly 400 mourners in attendance. The funeral was a poignant gathering of racing industry figures from all over Britain, paying tribute to a man who had a significant impact on the sport.
Bailey, who passed away on July 24 at the age of 86, was remembered for his notable achievements, including two Chester Cup wins (with Old Hubert and Silence In Court), an Ayr Gold Cup victory with Not So Silly, and stakes wins with juvenile fillies Agrippina and Aspen Darlin. He trained for prominent owner Terry Ramsden, with horses like Not So Silly and Hallgate, the latter winning the 1987 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Bailey was celebrated for his skill in judging horses and for being a positive influence on his team. Mick Channon, Geoff Huffer, David Elsworth, John Ryan, Peter Chapple-Hyam, and Chris Dwyer were among the trainers and former trainers who came from all over Britain to pay their respects. Jock Brown, Charlie Johnston's traveling head lad, made the trip from North Yorkshire, and Franny Norton, John Egan, Adam Kirby, Liam Jones, Michael Tebbutt, Michael Hills, Freddy Tylicki, Allan Mackay, Philip Robinson, Jimmy Quinn, Dale Gibson, and Willie Ryan were also in attendance.
Alan Bailey held a training license for 40 years until his retirement in 2020. After his retirement, it appears he did not have a notable public training career. However, a new trainer is making a statement of intent by almost doubling their string of horses.
The funeral procession moved to a private committal at West Suffolk Crematorium. At the service, Alan Bailey's grandson, trainer Joe Parr, was one of the pall-bearers. Roxanne, Bailey's granddaughter, gave a reading entitled The Last Race. In memory of Bailey, donations can be made to Racing Welfare or My Wish Charity at West Suffolk Hospital.
Following the committal, a gathering took place at the Bedford Lodge Hotel, one of Bailey's former haunts. Gary Bardwell, along with many others from the weighing room, paid their respects at the funeral. Melody Town, a former female apprentice, traveled from Australia to attend the funeral, as her late father was a longtime associate of Bailey's. An Italian Derby winner is stepping up its preparation for a surprise handicap target, but no specific trainer or horse name was mentioned.
[1] Sources: [Link 1], [Link 2]
Note: The article does not contain any direct information about Alan Bailey's specific training activities or achievements after his retirement in Newmarket, as no such information was provided in the search results.
[1] The racing community gathered at Alan Bailey's funeral to reminisce about his victories in sports races such as the Chester Cup and Ayr Gold Cup.
[2] After retiring from training in Newmarket, Alan Bailey could still be found supporting the racing industry, as demonstrated by Melody Town's journey from Australia to attend his funeral.
