THE close-knit racing community of Middleham was left stunned last Thursday with the sudden death of James Bethell’s daughter and assistant trainer Jessica, at the age of 24.

Bethell, whose passion, and love, for her dad’s horses and the sport in general was clear to see, had ridden out as normal on Tuesday morning but later complained of feeling unwell.

Later in the afternoon she was discovered unconscious in her bedroom and was flown by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but tragically passed away in the early hours of Thursday.

In a statement, her mother Sally said: “Jessica has been riding since she was 14 years old, when she started on Pip ‘the pony’. She has worked for her father throughout this time with a brief spell in London.

“She rode them all and was a good judge from the word go. She had one ride as an amateur on Fossgate, but was always plagued by injuries. This, coupled with her natural ability to judge performance, led her to become assistant trainer alongside her father.

“Her love of all the horses was obvious, but particularly for Granston, King Harson, Hartley, who was sold to Hong Kong, and Arlequin, who tragically died last Christmas, which devastated her.

“She had masses of friends throughout racing, both Flat and jumping, too many to mention. She will be so sadly missed by James, myself and my son Edward.”

Bethell added: “It was so sudden as she had ridden out two lots on Tuesday morning and had mentioned only flulike symptoms. She went to bed and was later found unconscious.

“The air ambulance was called and she was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but sadly they could not save her. Thanks to all at the Middlesbrough Hospital and the air ambulance team.”

All our thoughts are with her family and many, many friends.

Tragedies like this put things in perspective but Jess, no doubt, would have been happy with her dad’s Steelriver’s performance at Kempton on Wednesday evening, making all the running in the 7f maiden, looking well above average.

Redcar staged their big meeting of the year last Saturday and the highlight on the cracking card was the totepool.com Two Year Old Trophy and it went the way of the favourite Body And Soul, who was landing her second valuable race of the season for trainer Tim Easterby and jockey Duran Fentiman.

In an above average renewal, the winner was never far away and came home with over two lengths to spare from the runner-up and Royal Ascot winner Hototo.

Afterwards the delighted winning trainer said: “This has been the plan all along and it’s nice when they come off.

He’s been brilliant from the word go. There are a few possible options for her before the end of the season but we’ll see how she comes out of this first.”

There was also a competitive line-up for the final of the John Smiths Championship which went the way of the Geoff Harker trained of Ginger Jack, who stormed clear under PJ McDonald.

Harker, who trains on the A19, just outside Thirsk said: “I wasn’t convinced the ground would suit him, but he’s clearly coped with it fine.

He’s a grand horse and we’ll see what the handicapper does with him before making future plans.”

The flat season is starting to wind down and a two day fixture at York, starting this afternoon will see the inaugural ‘Countryside Raceday’ while Saturday will see the ultra competitive Coral Sprint Trophy.

The jumping season proper gets under way next Wednesday at Wetherby, the principal race on this day being The Bobby Renton Handicap Chase, a contest over the extended 2½mi which remembers the late Bobby Renton, who trained Freebooter to win the 1950 Grand National from his base near Ripon.