A TRIED and trusted formula regarding obituaries is usually employed when an important racing personality dies. A list of great horses, the big races won and the associated stories are documented.

I cannot offer those customary honours to Coral Pritchard-Gordon, who died last week after a bravely borne, year-long illness. The reason is simple: her whole life was primarily about looking after others ahead of herself. Coral was the personification of selfless generosity.

As the long-standing partner of Sir Michael Stoute she was certainly close to great success over the years. Her part in that success was immense and yet she never sought the limelight, content to step back and assume the role of background support crew.

Born in 1947, Coral spent her childhood at Rangers Lodge, The Curragh, where her grandfather Cecil Brabazon was training. She hunted her pony, Blackie, with the Naas Harriers and along with her sister, Derna, she became seamlessly inducted into the world of horses and racing.

Coral’s father, Captain Paddy Harbord, founded the Curragh Bloodstock Agency in 1948 in partnership with her uncle, Aubrey Brabazon. Paddy was a businessman well ahead of his time who initiated air travel for horses in an era when rail and boat were the usual modes of equine transport. The first flight of Cottage Rake, Hatton’s Grace and Castledermot to Cheltenham in 1949 and a subsequent pioneering transatlantic consignment of mares to the United States were organised by the CBA.

Paddy Harbord was also a leading figure in the equestrian world and he was a prominent member of the committee which brought the first European Three Day Event to Punchestown in 1967.

Coral’s mother, Lelia, was an accomplished horsewoman who rode work with the top jockeys of the day and her judgement was greatly valued by leading Curragh trainers. Sadly, her talent never progressed beyond the training grounds as she was riding many years before women were permitted to be licensed as jockeys. The word on The Curragh at the time was that Lelia was the best rider in the family. The fact that the other family member was the champion jockey, Aubrey Brabazon, says all that is needed about Lelia’s great natural talent as a horsewoman.

Coral met her future husband Gavin Pritchard-Gordon when he came to The Curragh as assistant trainer to Stuart Murless. The subsequent marriage produced two boys, Rupert and Paddy, who deservedly have always been the pride and joy of their parents. While the marriage did not survive, it says so much about Coral and Gavin that they remained good friends.

Coral’s kindness was limitless, and yet we pity the few innocents who confused that quality with any form of timidness. Her generous, caring nature could not always completely cover her feisty spirit. A short, sharp shout from Coral left any erring soul in no doubt who was the boss and exactly how they were expected to behave.

To condense anybody’s life to a few words is difficult; in the case of Coral it’s impossible. She was hugely helpful in the development of the Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket; she was an enthusiastic and accomplished gardener; she rode in the Newmarket Town Plate, finishing third; she fought her way through the crowds at the Adelphi Theatre in Dublin in 1963 to secure the autographs of the four Beatles; and her tireless charity work, particularly for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, was immense. In an extraordinary piece of serendipity, Coral would often drive the MS ambulance to and from various events as, years previously, her mother had driven wartime ambulances through the London Blitz. Legendary women indeed!

Over the years Ryan Moore has been more than the jockey at Freemason Lodge. He has been as close as possible to being part of the family. In an emotional tribute last week he started with the simple words: “I loved Coral...” Ryan, you are not alone. We all loved Coral.

May she rest in peace.

R.B.