THE 25th Cartier Racing Awards in The Dorchester Hotel in London on Tuesday was an evening of high emotion. It spanned elation and joy to sadness, and more than a few of those on stage during the evening shed a tear.

Before an invited audience of 300, one human and eight equine awards were presented and the evening was overseen for the final time by Cartier UK’s honorary chairman Arnaud Bamberger. Most of the award recipients paid tribute to his championing of racing’s most illustrious awards and at the end of the evening the British Horseracing Authority chairman Steve Harman made a presentation. After receiving the painting of Frankel, a two-time Cartier Horse of the Year winner, Bamberger said: “That was not in the script! I am very touched and it meant a lot tonight for me. Thank you.” He added; “I just want to say I am overwhelmed by everyone’s presence here tonight, your friendship and your smiles. I hope you had a good time as that is what it is all about.