REDCAR Racecourse has joined in the tributes to legendary racing journalist Alastair Down, who has died aged 68.

Back in 2011, Alastair poked fun at the seaside track, saying: “When I am dead, the only things I want on my gravestone is my name, dates, neck measurement, and the words ‘He never went to Redcar’.”

Redcar responded in good-humoured fashion by staging “The Alastair Down Gravestone Selling Stakes” – and the Racing Post columnist visited the course to present the trophy.

He went on to quip that his next plan was to have “I never went to Garrison Savannah” on his gravestone in the hope it would earn him a trip to Barbados!

After news of the writer’s death, Redcar’s general manager, Amy Fair, said: “We’ll never forget what a great sport Alastair was. He had a bit of fun at our expense, and we had a bit of fun back, and it was all taken in great spirit.

“He was, without doubt, one of the most brilliant racing writers of his generation, with a style that captured the colour and spectacle of the sport in a unique way.”

Alastair is the only journalist to be named Racing Writer of the Year on five occasions. Only last month, the press room at Cheltenham was officially named after him.

Racing Post editor Tom Kerr said: “Everyone at the Racing Post is devastated to hear of Alastair’s death. We have lost a great friend and ally, who delighted readers and colleagues alike for decades with his magnificent writing, passion for the sport, and sense of fun.”

Trainer Michael Dods knew Alastair well and spoke with fondness about his generosity of spirit.

“I last spoke to him a few days before the Ayr Gold Cup when he rang to wish me luck. That was the kind of man he was.

“He followed our horses and we spoke a couple of times a year. He used to describe himself as ‘The Chairman of the Michael Dods Racing Community’ in the area where he lived.

“Not only was he a real gentleman, he was one of the best racing journalists the sport has ever known.”

Alastair, who studied at York University, was also a long-time member of the Channel 4 Racing team, taking over as lead presenter in 2001.