A few weeks ago I was contacted by Sarah Stacey who had recently lost her mum, Janet Miveld, after a short illness.

Janet had followed the Easterby horses for many years, and a few years back had posted a photograph on Facebook of herself with me at York with the caption “Me with the best ever trainer, Mick Easterby”.

Horses were a huge part of Janet’s life, and she wished for her ashes to be scattered in a place where there would always be horses.

Sarah sent me a message on Facebook and asked if it would be possible for her to scatter her mum’s ashes on our gallops.

I was, of course, more than happy to help and this afternoon Sarah and her family came to the stables to carry out her mum’s wishes.

A beautiful spot on the top of the gallops, the highest point on the Farm, was chosen. The location overlooks York Minster and the Vale Of York, with views across to the Pennines over 50 miles away.

After the ashes were scattered in the middle of the gallop Sarah and her family released a box of butterflies and then had a tour of the stables and met some of the staff.

I hope that we have helped to grant Janet’s wish to be close to horses in a peaceful place which will be used to train racehorses for many years to come. I'll try and back a winner or two for Janet over the next few weeks in her memory.

Thank you Sarah and family, it was a pleasure to meet you and I hope that our horses can carry the spirit of your dear mum as they train and race all across the country.