“It is with great sadness to report that John Hales passed away last evening. A great man and a fantastic owner and friend for many people.” - Paul Nicholls

“It was an awesome performance. He’s just a real champion. His natural gallop is able to put other horses under pressure and there’s no end to him at three miles. I don’t know if people realise how long it takes to make a horse like this. It’s three-mile chasing, the pinnacle of our sport and it just takes ages.” - Willie Mullins on Galopin Des Champs

“He had tremendous understanding. He understood his horses, and that’s why he was such a great rider, but he also understood people, and that is why he made a lasting impression on everyone, and won the hearts of the Irish people.” - Fr Gerard Coleman at Michael O’Sullivan’s funeral

“Michael was much loved and will be missed. While we are heart-broken, we will heal in time. We will now focus on what Michael would have wanted for us.” - William O’Sullivan

“I’m on cloud nine - is there a bigger cloud to be on? I just can’t get over it! Here with my sons, to win at Cheltenham and to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, after everything I’ve been through, is a dream come true, and the dream is not finished yet.” - Owner of Kopek Des Bordes, Charlie McCarthy

“I spoke to Michael plenty about him before I started riding him. The horse is what he is today because Michael made him. It is very emotional.” - Sean Flanagan after winning on Marine Nationale at Cheltenham

“I read in an interview that J.P. McManus said some people are luckier than others and I definitely feel like I was born luckier going round here.” - Rachael Blackmore at Cheltenham

“To have a runner in the Gold Cup is fantastic. To win it is unbelievable. I’m so grateful to J.P. and Noreen for sending horses like this to me. I’m just delighted to be able to repay them by winning the Gold Cup. I was a farrier for 20+ years and the latter few years of it, I was part-time trainer and full-time farrier.” - Gavin Cromwell after the Gold Cup

“I think this is the summit for me, I don’t think it can get any better than this. Now I know how Ted Walsh felt, I never thought I’d have that feeling, but here we are. This is the best day ever, this will never be topped.” - Willie Mullins after the Grand National

Ladies Day. Rule 4s. Awful results. 31 degree heat. There is no God. - (Sum up Royal Ascot’s Thursday!) AKBets@AKBets

“I said to my husband, if he wins, I’ll run naked down the track for a mile.” - Jayne McGivern, who stands Golden Horn, sire of Gold Cup winner Trawlerman

“The word legend gets thrown around a lot, but it is the only word to describe that man. He was the constant in my career. I know nothing else in racing only him being there. I started off calling him ‘Sir’, then ‘Boss’ and by the end it felt to me like we were family.” - Chris Hayes on Kevin Prendergast

“I love coming here - it is the pinnacle of our sport. Me and Colin [Keane] are after riding the winners and it is great for the Irish lads to be riding winners here.” - Billy Lee at Royal Ascot

“He leaves behind a game that he permanently changed and a sport that will never be the same without him.” - Todd Pletcher on D Wayne Lukas

“I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions. You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.” - Judge Sam Goozee giving judgement on Oisin Murphy’s drunk driving case

“Delacroix’s final furlong was probably the fastest recorded by an Eclipse winner in history. Let that sink in for a moment.” - Simon Rowlands after the Eclipse Stakes

“I was a little bit naïve as I thought if I buy 20, one of them will be good enough. Then I bought 20 the following year and there was still no good one, but if you keep chipping away and do the right things, it will happen.” - Richard Hughes after the July Cup win for No Half Measures

“I’m just devasted. It couldn’t be any worse. He was a special, special horse. He’s been amazing for me, a star. Those memories are some of my very best.” - Hollie Doyle on the loss of Trueshan

No surprise to see improved figures @Galway_Races. I was lucky enough to attend for 3 days, we took 100 @SyndicatesHQ owners through the gates with zero hassle, the O&T facilities were exceptional and the craic as always was mighty. Special mention to @HRIOwners team also. - John Bourke@Johnny_Bourke

“With a pedigree like he has, the physique and the ability to quicken - there are very few horses like him. He’s by Dubawi and is out of a Bernstein mare so he’s an outcross and can cover all the Northern Dancer type mares.” - Aidan O’Brien as Delacroix ticked all the boxes

“I don’t mind saying this, I was a bit down in the mouth when it happened, but my father reminded me there’s still a lot of things to be happy about.” - M.V. Magnier after the death of Wooton Bassett

“I slept on a jumbo jet, all the way from Rosegreen to Santa Anita in between Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator.” - Hector Ó hEochagáin in an interview with Johnny Ward at Ballinrobe

Goodbye to one of the sport’s great characters. Really loved my time at Killeens Stables & have some brilliant memories working for such an admirable man. - Andrew McNamara@Mr_Andy_Mc on Edward O’Grady

“When Edward fancied a horse and gave you the office, you didn’t need to have money, all you needed to have was credit, you always felt they would deliver.” - J.P. McManus

Keith Donoghue has won jumps ride of the season already in my opinion as not sure we will see a better ride than the one on Stumptown to win the Velka. - Darran Pearce@DarranPearce

“Unfortunately, her passport didn’t make its way down from Chantilly for the races today. Her passport is currently in an Uber.” - All the way from Australia, but Asfoora nearly didn’t make the Abbaye

“It was about the worst ride I think I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled.” - Maureen Haggas on a Zac Purton ride

Thomas Carberry winning the Crown Oaks 3rd up with Strictly Business only 13 days after breaking her maiden over 1400m is possibly the greatest modern day training performance we have seen.” - Michael Hickmott@mhbloodstock

“That guy…he isn’t even a flat trainer in the UK, he’s the main guy in the jump racing” - Overheard @ the Breeders’ Cup Off To The Races@OTTR_Elliot

“Where else do you go? Aintree isn’t a midwinter track, and neither is Sandown on its hurdles track. It beggars belief, but in this day and age nothing should surprise us. We can’t lose it, and we mustn’t lose it.” - Alan King on losing Kempton