Horse racing trainer who lost three staff to suicide embarks on £25k charity walk

Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Warren Greatrex is embarking on a 22 mile trek to pay back the charity which came to his aid after a series of tragic suicides hit his stable.

Over a period of five years, three of his staff took their own lives which had a devastating impact on their families, friends, work colleagues and the racing community in Lambourn. Michael Pitt, 19, was found dead at a petrol station after taking his life in July 2021, and David Thompson, 25, was reported missing before his body was tragically discovered in February 2022.

Then in May this year Billy Moffatt was found dead in his accommodation at Greatrex’s Lambourn stables after he failed to show up for work.

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Greatrex is leading a team of 14 in a guided walk from Scarborough Castle to Whitby Abbey which will follow the coastal Cleveland Way, through the North York Moors National Park on Sunday.

The undulating coastal route has the equivalent ascent of climbing Mount Snowdon and will take 10-12 hours to complete. Their goal is to raise £25,000 for Racing Welfare.

“There are a lot of people in racing that probably don’t know what Racing Welfare do, nor how much they do,” said Greatrex.

“From my point of view they have been absolute rocks in the most devastating circumstances.

“Without them it would have been a lot tougher to get through it all, not just with the families of the boys that have gone, but also their colleagues and friends that are around the area.

“Racing is its own community but Lambourn is a micro-community. Everyone knows everybody so when something like this happens once, let alone three times in five years, it hits everyone very hard.”

He continued: “The skill, the empathy, the love, the strength Racing Welfare show, and Charlotte and Kerry in particular who are based in Lambourn, is immense. They were here literally in minutes and have organised counselling and provided a friendly face that isn’t necessarily a work colleague.

“I just couldn’t thank them enough. I always said I would be willing to help as much as I can so I am embarking on this walk, have roped in some friends and we’re off to get this done on Sunday.”

A fundraising page has been set up for Greatrex and the Lambourn Wanderers by Racing Welfare.