Tributes Flow For Legendary Racing Writer Alastair Down, Who Dies Aged 68

Much-loved racing journalist Alastair Down has died, the Racing Post reported on Friday. He was 68 and recently attended the Showcase Meeting at his beloved Cheltenham for a ceremony to mark the renaming of the press room in his honour.

Speaking in an interview with ITV Racing on the day of the ceremony, Down said of that tribute, “It's a cliched way to put it, but it's very moving. By the end of the day I may have had a cup of coffee and a glass of champagne, and I may even shed a tear or two–or a bucket.

“I'm incredibly lucky to be able to write from a slightly different angle. Some people can run four-minute miles. I can't do that, but what I can do is bring events alive and say 'this is what it felt like to watch it and this is what it sounded like'. Because the noise here is just the greatest symphony in sport.”

Down's self-professed ability to “bring events alive” was honed across four decades of writing professionally, initially for The Sporting Life and latterly for the Racing Post. His achievement in being crowned HWPA Racing Writer of the Year on five occasions sees him rightfully stand alone as the most successful member of the racing media in that category, having been awarded the Clive Graham Trophy in 1994, 1999, 2012, 2015 and 2018.

Down also became a familiar face on terrestrial television for much of the Channel 4 Racing era and was the lead presenter for over a decade from when he started in 2001.

Among those to pay tribute on Friday was Down's Channel 4 Racing colleague Mike Cattermole, who said on X, “So pleased Alastair Down was able to be there for the opening of “his” press room. A giant in our sport, admired and revered by all. A genius with words, both written and spoken, passionate, very funny and yet vulnerable and complicated. We all cared about him. Love to his family.”

Derek Thompson, another member of the Channel 4 Racing team, said in his own statement on X, “Just a week ago Alistair Down was honoured in the most fitting way at @CheltenhamRaces and shared his sentiments so succinctly here [in the interview with ITV Racing]. No one could bring racing alive in print in such a tangible and electrifying way. I'm sure Big Mac will have one ready for you in that bar in the sky – RIP big fella. We'll miss you.”