Alastair Down (9 February 1956 – 1 November 2024) was an English journalist and broadcaster who wrote for Sporting Life and Racing Post and covered horse racing for Channel 4 Racing.
Alastair Down | |
|---|---|
 Down in 2006 | |
| Born | 9 February 1956 |
| Died | 1 November 2024 (aged 68) |
| Alma mater | University of York |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, broadcaster |
| Years active | 1979–2024 |
| Employer | Channel 4 Racing (before 2001–2012) |
| Spouse |
Frances (m. 1988) |
| Children | 4[a] |
| Awards | Racing Writer of the Year (5 times) |
Early life and education
editDown was born on 9 February 1956. His father, Gordon, was an insurance broker. He graduated from Tonbridge School and later from the University of York. Down said that he attended the University of York because seven racecourses were within an hour's drive of it. At university, he spent much of his time betting on horse races. Down boasted that in his final two years there, he attended only two lectures.[1][2][3]
Career
editDown started his career in 1979 with Raceform, shortly before joining The Sun. He then joined Sporting Life two years later, in 1981.[1] He was made the lead presenter of Channel 4 Racing in 2001.[4] His role on the show was particularly prominent when it focused on jump racing.[3] When Channel 4 Racing employed a new production company in 2012, Down was dropped along with John McCririck and Mike Cattermole, which ended his frequent television appearances.[1]
A collection of his writings, titled The Down Side: The Very Best of Racing’s Top Writer and TV Presenter, was published in 2012.[5] Its sequel, Cheltenham et Al: The Best of Alastair Down, was compiled by Sean Magee and published in 2014.[2] The book won the 2015 British Sports Book Award in the Best Horse Racing Book category, the last one to do so.[6]
Personal life and death
editDown was married to Frances since 1988. The had three children together and he had a daughter from another relationship.[2][3] His daughter Saskia was killed in the 2019 London Bridge stabbing.[7] According to the Racing Post, he never recovered emotionally from her death and drinking became a "safe haven" for him.[3]
Down resided in the Cotswolds as of 2012.[3] He died on 1 November 2024, at the age of 68, after a brief illness.[1][8]
Awards and honours
editDown received the Racing Writer of the Year Award from the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association five times, first in 1994 and most recently in 2018.[9] He was the only journalist to receive the award five times.[10] He was awarded the President’s Award by the association in 2022, receiving it in 2023.[11] The press room of the Cheltenham Racecourse was renamed after him in his honour in October 2024.[12]
Bibliography
edit- The Down Side: The Very Best of Racing’s Top Writer and TV Presenter (Hardcover, Raceform Limited, 1 January 2012; ISBN 1908216050, 978-1908216052, ASIN 1908216050)
- Cheltenham et Al: The Best of Alastair Down (Kindle Edition, Racing Post Books, 28 October 2014; ASIN B00P02EZKO)
- Cheltenham et Al: The Best of Alastair Down (Paperback, updated and revised, Racing Post Books, 18 September 2015; ISBN 1910498033, 978-1910498033)
References
edit- ^ a b c d Ashforth, David (1 November 2024). "Alastair Down". Association of Mirror Pensioners. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Alastair Down, ebullient racing journalist and broadcaster who won a string of awards – obituary". The Telegraph. 2 November 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Ashforth, David (1 November 2024). "Alastair Down: a master conjuror of words and a cherished advocate for racing". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Redcar pays tribute to the legendary writer who poked fun at the course". Redcar Racecourse. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Down, Alastair (May 2012). The Down Side: The Very Best of Racing’s Top Writer and TV Presenter. Raceform Limited. ISBN 978-1-908216-05-2.
- ^ "Previous winners". British Sports Book Awards. 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Howard (1 November 2024). "Tributes paid to racing stalwart Alastair Down". Bristol Post. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Lees, Jon; Hart, Peter (2 November 2024). "Channel 4 legend dead just one month after receiving huge accolade". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Tributes Flow For Legendary Racing Writer Alastair Down, Who Dies Aged 68". Thoroughbred Daily News. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Alastair Down: Racing writer and broadcaster dies aged 68". BBC Sport. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Cleary, David (5 December 2023). "2023 HWPA Derby Awards – winners announced". HWPA. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Lees, Jon (1 November 2024). "Channel 4 icon dies just a week after being given huge honour". The Mirror. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
Notes
edit- ^ 1 deceased