A LEGENDARY trainer dubbed ‘one of the most feared’ in horse racing has died aged 94.
Reg Akehurst was famed for his unstoppable handicap plot jobs.
Bookies simply couldn’t get a grasp on his runners and he was known for landing countless gambles over the years.
Akehurst, who was one of Britain’s most successful dual-purpose trainers, passed away 12 years after losing son John to cancer.
Bookies everywhere breathed a massive sigh of relief when Akehurst retired from racing in October 1997, 35 years after taking out his licence.
A former National Hunt jockey with 99 wins, he left his Epsom stables to late son John but stayed on an assitant trainer.
John sadly lost a long battle with cancer in March 2012 at the age of 51, after the father-son duo had teamed up for Royal Ascot success in the Wokingham in 2002.
John never managed to land gambles on the scale of his old man, who was dubbed ‘the handicap specialist’.
One article from the time Akehurst announced his retirement read: “Reg would approach the press after a big handicap win professing he was the most surprised man in the house.
“After he had done this about 20 times following the nation’s most prestigious races some of us began to rumble him.
“Reg was having us on. The bookmakers were not so trusting.”
But he also had Group success with the likes of Gold Rod, who got black type three times over in France.
In Britain he plundered some of the biggest prizes, including the 1993 Ebor with Sarawat and Royal Hunt Cup with Red Robbo.
His last big-race success came with ITV Racing pundit Jason Weaver in the saddle when the pair landed a Listed Goodwood contest with 20-1 Bahamian Sunshine at Goodwood in August 1997.
It was testament to his skill as a handler that the big win before that was ex-Grand National winner Mick Fitzgerald guiding 14-1 Bimsey to success in the Aintree Hurdle.
Bookies knew a giant had gone upon his retirement all those years ago.
A Ladbrokes spokesman said at the time: “Mr Akehurst is a top-class, dual-purpose trainer, not just with well-publicised handicap coups, but with horses of all abilities.
“We are sorry to hear of his retirement, but at least we’ll be able to sleep a bit easier the night before a big handicap.”
Sky Sports Racing confirmed Akehurst’s death in a social media post on Tuesday.
