Tributes Flow In For Srivaddhanaprabha

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Richard Hannon was among those from the racing industry to pay tribute on Tuesday to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash on Saturday. The Thai businessman owned the Leicester City football club, and was killed, along with four others, when his helicopter crashed leaving a match and burst into flames. Srivaddhanaprabha had also made a significant investment in racehorses over the last couple years, and on Saturday his Morando (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), trained by Andrew Balding-who handles the majority of the King Power string–dead-heated to win the G3 St Simon S.

Hannon, who has run 10 horses for King Power Racing this season, said, “He was kind, generous, he enjoyed his sport immensely and listening to the reports on the TV and radio, there hasn’t been one person say a bad thing about him–that is rare, it’s unheard of. His wealth he used for so much good, donating to charities and hospitals. He was a hard-working, self-made man.”

“The hole he will leave in his businesses is irrelevant compared to the hole he will leave in the lives of his family, so we’re thinking of them. He was just getting the bit between his teeth on the racing front and enjoying it. It’s just all happened so quickly, it’s quite surreal.”

Leicester Racecourse held a moment of silence prior to the start of its Monday meeting, and two King Power horses entered with Balding were scratched as a mark of respect. Leicester Clerk of the Course Jimmy Stevenson said, “He used to come here with his entourage and was a very private person, he kept to himself. He just loved being at the races, he was passionate about it,” he said. “It’s a sad time for Leicester, he engrossed the city, the fans loved him; he wasn’t just a chairman who put his money in. Some chairmen don’t go to matches, but he was right in amongst it–they loved him.”

Srivaddhanaprabha’s charitable work included a £2-million donation to the Leicester children’s hospital.

The British Horseracing Authority’s chief executive Nick Rust said, “The death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is a tragedy for the world of sport and horseracing. His enthusiasm for racing was clear and I am sure that we had only seen the beginnings of what would have been a tremendous love affair. King Power Racing currently has 67 horses in training with seven different trainers–that is a tremendous investment and Vichai’s passion for horses has helped support livelihoods of many people working in our industry.”

 

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