ZOE DAVISON’S daughter and husband have paid tribute to the ‘hero’ horse trainer after she lost her cancer battle aged 60.
Davison passed away on Sunday – as two of her horses won at Plumpton.
The racing community was united in its grief for the popular trainer, who had lived with breast cancer for four-and-a-half years.
Daughter Gemelle, a former jockey who turned to training with her mum, had been updating friends and fans on her mother’s condition.
She recently revealed it had spread and that she was just taking things day by day until her passing.
Taking to Twitter, Gemelle vowed to continue her ‘inspirational’ mum’s work after giving her the send off she deserved.
Gemelle wrote: “Where do I start?!
“Firstly I would really like to say thank you to everyone for all your well wishes and support. I know mum would be overwhelmed by the messages.
“It is the hardest thing in the world saying goodbye to your mum, best friend and work partner.
“Mum you are truly an inspiration in so many ways, your strength fighting through this awful disease.
“Not once did you complain, not once did you feel sorry for yourself. You went through life with a smile on your face, the horses were and always will be all of you.
“I hope that people can appreciate what you achieved with the horses you had over the years.
“Most people would turn their heads away, but you being you would take them under your wing, to try and guide them to success.”
Gemelle added: “Thank you for all the years of enjoyment together, especially when I was riding.
“We’re going to carry on what you started, and hope that one day we might get a Saturday horse that you’d always dreamed of.
“Goodnight mum, I will never stop loving you. You really are my hero.”
Zoe’s husband Andy Irvine, who was by her bedside with other family members as she passed, said: “She was the most wonderful, incredible person.
“I am blessed to have spent the last 24 years of my life with her.”
Andy also tweeted a photo of his late wife with the message: “My beautiful best friend, with, and soul mate, I love you.”
Jockey Page Fuller, who rode for Zoe’s family-run stable in East Grinstead, West Sussex, also paid her respects.
She wrote: “I don’t think words could ever describe what a kind, strong and supportive woman you were.
“You were such a horsewoman and your patience was so frequently rewarded with tricky horses. My thoughts are with everyone at Shovelstrode but they did you proud today. Thank you Zoe xx.”
