Racing: Owner Lord Howard de Walden dies

LORD HOWARD DE WALDEN, the leading owner, has died, aged 86, writes Ian Davies. Lord Howard de Walden's distinctive apricot silks were carried to success on British racecourses for over half a century, but his greatest day as an owner came in 1985 when Slip Anchor won the Derby for him.

Lord Howard de Walden, the ninth baron, was born in London on 27 November 1912 and educated at Eton and Cambridge. A major in the Westminster Dragoons, he became a successful property owner with large inherited holdings in central London around Harley Street and Portland Place.

He took over the family's horses on the death of his father in 1946. Since the 1970s most of his horses had been trained by Henry Cecil. Cecil saddled numerous winners for him. The miler Kris won 14 of his 16 races, including the St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes in 1979. Diesis won the Dewhurst Stakes in 1982, and Paean won the 1987 Ascot Gold Cup. Over jumps the Fred Winter-trained Lanzarote took the Champion Hurdle for Lord Howard in 1974. Lord Howard was a long-time member of the Jockey Club and had three spells as Senior Steward. He leaves a wife and four daughters.