Tributes are paid to legendary racing journalist John Budden, who has died aged 83

He passed away on Tuesday aged 83.

Mr Budden was a hugely respected figure in the racing scene - and a trusted journalist whose columns in The Cumberland News began as far back as 1966.

The former school master spent almost 60 years in the sport, also covering the northern racing scene for Border Television as well as being a racecourse commentator throughout Scotland and the north of England.

He was a regular figure at Carlisle Racecourse, where officials have paid tribute to Mr Budden.

Broadcaster and Carlisle raceday presenter Gordon Brown spoke warmly of a man he knew for more than 40 years at Thursday's meeting at Carlisle.

John Budden, who wrote for The Cumberland News from 1966, starts the printing presses at Cumbrian Newspapers in 2015 "I’ve got lots of fond memories of John - he was a real local legend in Cumbria as a commentator, broadcaster and journalist," said Mr Brown.

"We wanted to pay tribute in a style befitting to him and after discussing it with Kirkland Tellwright [clerk of the course], we felt that a few fond words from myself and the racecourse commentator Ian Bartlett was more suitable than a minute’s silence.

“I think he was originally from Kent where he was a schoolteacher and it was as a commentator that I first came across him. He then moved to Cumbria and taught English, before combining teaching with journalism.

"He started his column in The Cumberland News in the sixties, which he wrote up until his death and his final column was in last week’s edition.

“Before each meeting we would do a little tipping segment before racing in the winners’ enclosure at Carlisle and he was a good judge! Most of the horses he tipped were from local yards, which is a strong hint as to where his passions lied. 

“He was a proper gentleman and a real old school chap in that I never heard him swear! I never came across someone who had a bad thing to say about him and he had the respect of so many people.”

Helen Willis, the new general manager at Carlisle Racecourse, also paid tribute to Mr Budden.

She said: “We were all deeply saddened to hear of John’s passing.

Mr Budden was a regular and respected figure at Carlisle Racecourse for many years (photo: PA)

"He was a hugely popular figure on racedays and although I only had the chance to see him in action once – on my very first day – his enthusiasm for the place was infectious.

“He was the type of character who could light up the room and it was lovely to see journalists, jockeys, trainers and racegoers all paying tribute to him on Thursday.”

His wife Jackie died last year but he is survived by sons James and Simon. Funeral details have yet to be announced.

Mr Budden also wrote for the Sporting Life and more recently was a pundit on William Hill Racing Radio, while in 2019 a race at Kelso was named after him, sponsored by his family and friends to honour one of the sport's greatest supporters in the north.

Mr Budden's passing was the subject of a tribute article in The Racing Post, where his son James said: "He was very much a glass half full person. He had a lot of time for people and he liked to see the good in everyone.

"He was good company and a terrific raconteur. There have been some lovely things written about him and some very kind messages.

"He started to commentate on the Cumberland Farmers point-to-point and he got a part-time job with The Cumberland News in 1966 – 'Over The Sticks with Basil Budden' – and he was their longest-serving employee. He was bashing out his articles right to the end.

"Gradually he did more and more racing and less and less teaching but for a long time he ran a cricket team, the Trogs, that started with him and a bunch of schoolmaster friends. He was the captain and he would quite often nip off to the call box to phone through to some newspaper when he was meant to be directing the fielders!"

Vanessa Sims, regional group editor for Newsquest Cumbria, publisher of The Cumberland News, said: "For decades John Budden's name was a byword for knowledge and respect throughout racing, and it was a privilege to carry his words in our titles for so many years.

"Our thoughts and sympathies go to his family and friends at this very sad time."

With thanks to Nick Seddon/The Jockey Club