Tributes pour in for Geoff Lewis
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 27 Aug 2025
Harry Herbert hailed leading jockey-turned-trainer Geoff Lewis as a “one of racing’s great characters” following his death at the age of 89.
Lewis was best known for his association with the great Mill Reef during his days in the saddle, a horse he rode to victory in both the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971.
Following the end of his riding career in 1979, he began training from Thirty Acre Barn in Epsom, the racing town where he had served as an apprentice to Ron Smyth as a teenager.
From a relatively small stable he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, who he trained for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the early days of their enterprise.
Lake Coniston’s triumphs included the July Cup, the Duke of York, the Abernant, the Diadem and the Hackwood Stakes, and Lewis’ contribution to the early prosperity of Highclere was significant.
“It is incredibly sad news, Geoff really got us going at Highclere,” said Harry Herbert, founder and chairman of the syndicate.
“He trained our first champion, Lake Coniston, to win the July Cup in 1995 and he was such an incredible character.
“Anyone who had horses with us and Geoff in those early days will never forget the stable visits, his daughter Mary would cook our members the most delicious lunches and Geoff and his wife Noelene were like a double act.
“They were wonderful; warm, welcoming and great entertainers.
“We were fortunate enough to have some really good horses with Geoff, not just Lake Coniston but Referendum too, who was second in the National Stakes in Ireland.
“He was very generous in his efforts to get Highclere started, he called on friends of his and other owners and we probably ended up having seven or eight horses with him because he was so supportive.
“It was a sad day when he gave up training. We have wonderful memories of a marvellous man, a hugely talented jockey, a hugely talented trainer and one of racing’s great characters. We will miss him.”
Mill Reef also provided Lewis with victories in the Dewhurst and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the rider claiming plenty of other notable prizes including the Stewards’ Cup aboard Tudor Monarch for Sir Winston Churchill in 1959, the Ascot Stakes and the Doncaster Cup aboard Queen Elizabeth II’s Magna Carta in 1970 and 2000 Guineas on Right Tack in 1969.
Mill Reef at Ascot, 1971.
Simon Dow now trains at the stable where Lewis served his apprenticeship, and described him as a huge part of the racing community in Epsom.
“He was an Epsom legend, an icon, of course he won the Derby on the great Mill Reef,” he said.
“He was a force to be reckoned with, both as a jockey and as a trainer. For 20 years as a trainer he was extremely successful from Thirty Acre Barn.
“It is very unusual for good Flat jockeys to go on to be top Flat trainers but he was one of the few who made the transition.
“He was part of the fabric of Epsom. People of my age and generation have fantastic memories of him, he was a great character who was also extremely supportive and a friend to everyone in Epsom.”
Related posts
Five horses to watch at Cheltenham this week
Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips at Kempton: "he looks very well in"
Saturday ante-post tips: brace of 20-1 chances among five bets
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White 2026-27 Jumps season stable tour
Five changes made at Cheltenham ahead of the 2026-27 season
Todays top offer
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&C's apply. 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Claim Now
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £20 debit card or instant banking transfer deposit. Place a £20+ bet on Horse Racing at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg for 4x £10 Free Bets (can be used on Racing Bet Builder). Claim within 30 days. Valid for Horse Racing only. Geographical restrictions and Further T&C’s apply
Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. 18+ GambleAware.
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved