Racing pays tribute to Graham Rock

Fulsome tributes were paid to Graham Rock at the ceremony held in his memory at Epsom racecourse today.

Rock, founding editor of the Racing Post and latterly racing correspondent for the Observer and a commentator for BBC Television, died last month at the age of 56 after a battle against cancer which lasted more than four years.

He was described as 'a master of so many things' by Racing Post columnist and Channel 4 Racing presenter Alistair Down.

He related a day when he and Rock accompanied Sir Mark Prescott to Longchamp when Triple Dash, whom Prescott trained, was meant to run in the French 2000 Guineas but was thwarted when his starting stall gate failed to open.

Brian Oliver, sports editor of the Observer, which Rock joined in 1993, described Rock as 'a first race racing correspondent' before telling how he had once accompanied Rock to a day at Brighton when Rock had found great merit in a horse in which he was interested finishing last!

Jim McGrath, BBC commentator and racing correspondent on the Daily Telegraph, referred to Rock as 'a very very good friend and an extraordinary good man'.

He recalled a conversation in which he told Rock that the latter`s racing colours of white with a blue star were too conspicuous. 'I know', said Rock. 'Next time round I am going to register camouflage.'

Scott Finley, who came over from America for the service and was largely responsible for introducing the IT equipment to the Racing Post`s first offices in Raynes Park, referred to Rock as 'a very loyal and always supportive friend'.

He recalled their success when they had backed Chief Bareheart at 25-1 for the Breeders` Cup Turf of 1993 and were tickled pink when the horse won at an SP of 15-8.

Sir Mark Prescott who trained many of Rock`s winners, notably the Cambridgeshire and Magnet Cup winner Pasternak, called Rock: 'A marvellous man when things are at their worst - and that is a real test,' before relating their encounter with a Moroccan taxi driver in Paris when Two Left Feet had been beaten in a race he should most definitely have won.

The ceremony was introduced by Neil Grieg, one of Rock`s fellow partners in Pasternak, and featured excerpts from the works of Puccini beautifully sung by Victoria Collis and John D`Antona, which Rock had selected when he prepared the arrangements for the ceremony.