FAMILY, friends and racing greats have paid tribute to Somerset-based legendary horse trainer and former jockey Bill Turner, who has passed away aged 78.

The former jockey died after an incident which left him with a fractured skull, with his daughter Kathy confirming the sad news on Thursday (August 14).

She told Sky Sports Racing: “He slipped away this morning. The support from everyone in ­racing has been absolutely outstanding. I’ve tried to reply to as many people as I could, but I am so sorry if I haven’t replied to you or someone else. The love that man had was absolute.

“He wasn’t just my dad and my sister’s dad and Ryan’s grandfather, he was everyone’s dad and the people who he has helped in their careers saw him as a dad.

“He would have preferred to have been going flat out up the gallops, but unfortunately it was a freak accident.

“I still can’t get round that this injury has done this to him, as I’ve pulled him out from such serious injuries on the gallops. Only last Sunday, he was re-felting my sister’s salon roof.”

Turner, who was based at Sigwells Farm, in Corton Denham near Sherborne, was a popular character in racing, having risen to prominence as a jockey and later as a trainer, winning the first race of the flat season – the Brocklesby Stakes – six times.

And Kathy said his final win in the race, in 2013, was among the highlights of his career, with grandson Ryan While riding Mick’s Yer Man to victory.

“His best ever moment was when Ryan won the ­Brocklesby on Mick’s Yer Man,” she added.

Brant Dunshea, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, also paid tribute, saying: “Everybody at the BHA is deeply saddened by the news of Bill Turner’s death. My thoughts, along with my colleagues at the BHA and everyone involved in the sport, are with Bill’s family and friends, as well as everyone who works at the yard.

“Bill was a wonderful stalwart of our sport. He poured his heart and soul into racing, both as a jockey and then a trainer, and we will particularly miss his annual runner in the Brocklesby Stakes, which he won an impressive six times.

“We will do everything we can to support the yard during this incredibly challenging period.”