RACING is in mourning after the sad news legendary owner Jim Lewis has died aged 88.
Lewis was best known for being the owner of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate.
The Henrietta Knight-trained chaser was an absolute superstar of the sport and won more than £1million on the racecourse.
He also owned fellow Cheltenham Festival sensation Edredon Bleu, who won the Champion Chase with AP McCoy in the saddle in 2000.
Lewis' widow Jennifer told the BBC that he died on Sunday due to kidney failure.
Lewis' racing colours were modelled on Aston Villa's 1957 FA Cup-winning strip.
He and his entourage wore Villa scarves at the races and Lewis was a lifelong fan of the Midlands club
Remembering Lewis and his impact, ITV pundit Luke Harvey said: "In the context of the sport he didn't have many horses.
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"But to have two superstars like Best Mate and Edredon Bleu was absolutely extraordinary.
"I was working for 5Live when Best Mate won his third Gold Cup and I don't think I've ever heard cheering like it.
"Jim was a very personable man and really easy to get on with – they all came back to my pub after that Gold Cup win.
"We had a quiet night after his third Gold Cup, shall we say…
"He's a man we'll all very much miss."
One punter saddened by Lewis' passing said: "Jim provided me with childhood memories that I will always cherish.
"A wonderful true gentleman who will be sorely missed."
While another wrote: "A sad day. He will be missed."
Lewis made his money running the SilentNight bed companybefore setting up his own furniture import business.
Success in that sphere meant he could invest in racehorses – but no one could have predicted Best Mate.
He became the first horse since Arkle 40 years before to complete the Gold Cup treble – winning racing's most prestigious jumps contest for a third time in 2004.
The horse was ridden by Irish jockey Jim Culloty – the uncle of Flat riding sensation Oisin Murphy.
Best Mate's ashes were laid at Cheltenham's winning post after he died of a suspected heart attack at Exeter in 2005.
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Lewis and his pals used to sing 'Best Mate' to the tune of Amazing Grace before his races.
The late owner said of his prized asset: "He was a great racehorse – there can have been very few in the world like him."
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