Trbiutes have been paid to Lord Oaksey, the former jockey, journalist, author, broadcaster and founder of the Injured Jockeys Fund, who has died, aged 83.

He passed away yesterday morning at his family home in the Wiltshire village near Malmesbury which carried his name following a lengthy period of ill health.

In recent years, he enjoyed success with the steeplechaser Carruthers, whom he bred, part-owned and named after a story he used to tell in his role as an after-dinner speaker.

Trained by his son-in-law, Mark Bradstock and Lord Oaksey’s daughter, Sara, at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, Carruthers landed the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, bridging a gap of 53 years after Oaksey won the race as a rider on Taxidermist.

He will always be associated with his work for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Retired trainer Jack Berry worked alongside Lord Oaksey in his role as vice president of the IJF.

He said: “It’s a very sad day. He was a star man in every respect.” Born John Lawrence on March 21, 1929, he was second in the Grand National on Carrickbeg in 1963.

He was a renowned writer for The Daily Telegraph and was a member of ITV Seven from 1969 and, later, Channel 4’s racing team.

Channel 4 Racing pundit John McCririck said: “John had a love, enthusiasm and understanding of racing that was inspirational.”

Champion jockey Tony McCoy tweeted: “A truly great gentleman. RIP.”