FORMER jockey Johnny Foster, who lived in Wellington, has passed away at his home at the age of 90.

One of 10 children Johnny grew up in North Newton and started riding from an early age.

When he was 15 he rode 25-1 shot Red Royal to victory in the Didcot Plate at Bath racecourse, winning by half a length, beating the well know flat jockey Gordon Richards 

After riding on the flat for a couple of years he became a National Hunt jockey and rode in three Grand Nationals and chalked up 120 winners in total .

During the course of his career Johnny taught both former champion trainer Martin Pipe and his wife Carol to ride.

Pipe said: “When I started to learn to ride I went to Henlade where Eric Foster, Johnny’s brother had stables which was the first time I’d ridden.

“I met Johnny there and then later on his family came to work for us, his daughter Dawn worked in the yard and his son Martin became conditional champion jockey while riding for us. 

“Johnny went onto ride lots of winners and Martin now runs a successful horse transport business.

He added: “We have known him for all our lives.”