Newmarket's close-knit racing community has been deeply saddened by the passing of Coral Pritchard-Gordon after a long illness at the age of 73.
Coral Pritchard-Gordon (née Harbord) was born and raised in the racing game as her father, Captain Paddy Harbord, founded the Curragh Bloodstock Agency in 1948. Based at Ranger's Lodge on the Curragh, the CBA had its English base at Crossways in the Avenue in Newmarket, and Coral Harbord spent her adult life in Newmarket. In 1970 she married Gavin Pritchard-Gordon, the assistant trainer to Harvey Leader who began training two years later and trained with great success for many years, most notably out of the legendary Stanley House Stables in the Bury Road. The marriage yielded two sons, Rupert and Paddy, who grew up to share their parents' passion for the sport. Rupert, who formerly trained successfully in Chantilly, is now racing manager for Al Shaqab in France, while Paddy has forged a good career as an estate agent.
After the dissolution of her marriage, Coral Pritchard-Gordon became the long-term partner of Sir Michael Stoute, becoming a lynchpin of the Freemason Lodge Stable, as crucial to the running of the operation as she was popular both within the local community and around the wider racing world. Aside from her involvement in the training, she gave plenty of her time to numerous local charities and causes to benefit the town which she had made her home.
The TDN offers its sincere condolences to Sir Michael, to Rupert and Paddy, to her extended family and to her wide circle of close friends.
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