Caroline, Countess of Lonsdale, dies at 74

[Wandering Eyes]

Caroline, Countess of Lonsdale, co-breeder of Group 1 winner Havana Grey (GB), died on Friday morning at the age of 74 after a long illness.

In partnership with Richard Kent of Mickley Stud, Lady Lonsdale’s greatest achievement on the turf in recent years was the multiple group-winning sprinter Havana Grey, the star of the first crop of Havana Gold (Ire) who is now standing his first season at Whitsbury Manor Stud.

In 1985, she enjoyed a Royal Ascot victory in her own colours with Marouble (Ire) (Double Form {Ire}), winner of the G2 Norfolk S., and with various partners, including former BHB Chairman Peter Savill, she also successfully raced a number of black-type fillies under her Lowther Racing banner. These included the Mark Johnston-trained trio Izzy Bizu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Delizia (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and homebred Peach Melba (GB) (Dream Ahead). The last two named are among the six mares she kept at Mickley Stud, along with Blanc De Chine (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the dam of Havana Grey, who is due to foal to Teofilo (Ire).

Paying tribute to Lady Lonsdale, Richard Kent said, “She was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable person who celebrated wins and accepted defeat in the same manner. She knew horses inside out and was very clever about her pedigrees; she studied them better than most.

“She said that her proudest time was last November was when we sold two Havana Gold foals well at the sales that we had bred together, and then just across the road from where we were selling at Tattersalls, Havana Grey was parading up and down for breeders.”

He added, “She was the perfect owner who was also a friend and helped us to get involved in better bloodstock than we would have been able to afford. She lived for her horses and was enthusiastic to the last. I spoke to her on Monday night and her filly Pink Flamingo had finished second at Wolverhampton. She said she was looking forward to seeing her run the next time.”

In addition to Mickley Stud, Lady Lonsdale also had a long-running association with the Watson family’s Manor Farm Stud in Rutland. During her long-running involvement with the sport, she had horses in training with Charlie Nelson, Mark Johnston, Karl Burke, Denis Coakley, Peter Makin, Andrew Balding, and Lord Huntingdon, with whom she also had horses in partnership with her late husband, the 7^th Earl of Lonsdale.

“She was a very brave lady, a loyal owner and a good friend for a long time,” said William Huntingdon. “She loved her racing and breeding, and Havana Grey going to stud gave her a great fillip in the last year of her life.”

Lady Lonsdale is survived by her daughter Marie-Louisa Raeburn and son Charles Lowther.

 

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