Horse Racing
Tim Easterby posts tribute to head lad who was ‘life and soul’ of stable
Shamus Donkin had worked at the Easterby family’s Yorkshire stable since the age of 15 and looked after many of the yard’s best horses
Classic-winning trainer Tim Easterby has paid a heartfelt tribute to one of his longest serving employees.
Shamus Donkin joined the trainer’s Yorkshire stable when he was just 15 years old. And after a short stint as a jockey he went on to become head lad for the Easterby family operation.
Easterby announced on Thursday that Donkin, who was in his early sixties, had passed away. “On Tuesday evening, Shamus Donkin passed away surrounded by his family,” he wrote.
“Shamus was the much-loved and very popular head lad of the farmside. Sham started working at Habton at the age of 15 with his twin brother Shaun.
“As a young man, Sham rode as an apprentice jockey before graduating to become the head lad of farmside.
“Sham was not only the head lad – but was the life and soul of his yard. He will be remembered dearly by everyone who has worked with him – for his hard work, dedication and his love of riding out.”
Donkin would regularly accompany one of the stable’s recent stars Well Farhh Go to the races. Wells Farhh Go won the Group 3 Acomb Stakes and Bahrain Trophy and Acomb Stakes.
“The smile on Sham’s face when going to collect his winner at Newmarket is something anyone who saw that day will never forget,” Eastery continued.
Donkin also worked with former chaser Father Delaney who won the 1979 Massey Ferugson Gold Cup.
The trainer said the horse would buck his jockey off at home and Donkin needed all of his “balance and skill as a horseman to keep their partnership intact each morning”.
Donkin was riding out two-year-olds in his sixties while he spent days off shooting. “We have lost a huge presence at the yard, and we will never be able to replace him,” Easterby said.
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