THE entire racing world is praying for a quick recovery for much-loved multi-millionaire owner Dai Walters.
The charismatic Welshman, believed to be 76, was seriously injured in an awful helicopter crash on Tuesday evening.
Walters was travelling back with four others, including top horse trainer Sam Thomas.
Thomas, 38, has returned home with minor injuries but Walters remains in hospital under the care of doctors.
Walters is one of Wales’ richest people.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Walters was worth £240million.
He made his massive fortune after setting up his own plant machinery firm in 1982.
Walters Group is based in Aberdare and is said to have an annual turnover of around £150m.
Walters, whose Christian name is Gweirydd, worked as a labourer and greengrocer in his teens.
He also planted trees for his local forestry commission before becoming an apprentice fitter in a coal mine in Maesgwyn, report The Owner Breeder.
He hit the big time 40 years ago when he started buying plant machinery and hiring it out to mining companies, at first just in south Wales.
Walters’ worth was put at £264m in 2020 and that made him Wales’ 13th richest person at the time, say the Daily Post.
Part of his fortune has been boosted by going into work with son Richard.
The Sunday Times says Richard runs Celtic Energy, a mining outfit.
Walters owns a number of racehorses, the majority of which are trained by Thomas.
Among his most popular are Good Risk At All, a six-year-old gelding who won at Carlisle last Sunday.
Deere Mark, Lump Sum, Steel Ally, Skytastic, Prince Des Fichaux, Vincenzo, Great Show, Mind Sunday and Tzarmix have all run already this season.
Oscar Whisky was Walters’ best horse.
Trained by Nicky Henderson, Oscar Whisky was a three-time Grade 1 winner who won 16 of his 28 races.
The superstar chaser earned Walters more than £500,000 on the track but sadly died during a race at Sandown in December 2014.
Oscar Whiskey loved Aintree and won the Aintree Hurdle in successive years from 2011, while also claiming the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase in 2014.
Among his other top horses were Cheltenham Festival winner Whisper, Grade 2-winning hurdler William Henry and Betfair Hurdle hero Al Dancer.
