Racing in mourning after death of Sussex trainer

James Best wins at Plumpton today on Brown Bullet - trained at Zoe Davison's Sussex yard - on the day Zoe passed away / Picture: Alan Crowhurst, Getty

The 60-year-old passed away on Sunday afternoon after a four-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

She trained horses at Shovelstrode Stud Stables in East Grinstead, the site having been run by her husband Andrew Irvine and her daughter Gemelle Johnson since she became too ill to carry on working.

Her death was announced soon after the yard scored a double at Plumpton - a track Zoe loved taking horses to.

Andrew tweeted a picture of Zoe and said: "My Beautiful best friend, wife, and Soul mate, I love you."

It was poignant stuff as first James Best rode Brown Bullet to an 8/1 victory in the Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Novices' Hurdle then James Davies rode Mr Jack home at 11/1 in the Watch Today's Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle.

Zoe competed as an amateur rider and sent out more than 100 winners. Her most successful season was 2017-18, when she trained 15 winners over jumps from 60 runners.She trained 28 winners at Plumpton, 11 at Fontwell and nine at Lingfield, the three courses where she enjoyed most success.

Tributes to Zoe, whose first winner was ridden by AP McCoy in 1997, flooded in on Twitter. Fontwell Park, another Sussex track where she was a familiar face, tweeted: "RIP Zoe Davison. Devastating news this afternoon after a long battle with cancer. Everyone at Fontwell Park sends their best wishes to all the team at Shovelstrode."

Ed Arkell, clerk of the course at Goodwood and formerly clerk at Fontwell, said: "Zoe was a huge part of the southern racing circuit. I'm so sorry for her family and she will be very much missed. She was a friendly, happy person who everybody loved.

"As a trainer, she ran a wonderful family operation. She supported her local tracks and became a big part of them."

Heart of the South Racing said: "Our thoughts are with Zoe’s family & friends. May she rest in peace."

West Sussex jumps trainer NickGifford sent this message to Zoe's family: "Sending you all our love . She was such a courageous brave , amazing , kind lady . So desperately devastating for you all."

Racing journalist Nic O'Leary, who covers the Sussex scene for Sussex Newspapers, wrote: "So sad to read that a regular on the racetracks of Sussex - Zoe Davison - has finally succumbed to her ill health. What better way to send her off than a double @plumptonraces. Thoughts are with the family, close friends and all those at the yard. Go well, Zoe."

Racehorse owner Jo Pike tweeted: "RIP Zoe Davison. An honour to have met such a beautiful soul, inside and out. Sending love to @g_gracey, Andy and the family. You definitely did her proud today."