Valda Embiricos, the passionate horsewoman, breeder and racing supporter died at house on 16 July, aged 92.
Valda was recognized for her unwavering love of horses, which she inherited from her dad and mom Eileen and John Rogerson.
Valda and her husband Nick purchased a farm in Kirdford, West Sussex, in 1969 and established Barkfold Manor Stud. The couple raised their youngsters collectively; their daughter Alex, Valda’s sons Euan and Alastair from her first marriage, and Nick’s son Nick from his first marriage.
Certainly one of Valda and Nick’s biggest success tales was Aldaniti who, skilled by Josh Gifford, received the 1981 Grand Nationwide with Bob Champion. The story is warmly remembered as a fairytale; Aldaniti had suffered a variety of accidents and Valda helped nurse him again to health, and Bob had survived most cancers. Their story impressed many charitable donations, in addition to the movie Champions, and two years later Nick helped arrange the Bob Champion Most cancers Belief.
Valda was additionally concerned in eventing; via their friendship with Josh Gifford, Valda and Nick had been part-owners of his daughter Tina Cook dinner’s Olympic trip Miners Frolic, who received particular person and crew bronze at Beijing in 2008 and was a part of the crew that received silver at London 2012.
Valda was one of many first girls to trip in opposition to males in point-to-points. Her daughter Alex mentioned her mom on a horse, leaping fences, was “poetry in movement”. Valda adopted in her mom’s footsteps when she received the Newmarket City Plate in 1955 with Vulpes, 30 years after Eileen turned the primary girl to win it. Alex went on to win the identical race in 1984 with Summons. The 2025 Newmarket City Plate will run in Valda’s reminiscence.
Valda was one of many first girls to be elected to the Jockey Membership in 1987 and she or he was a steward at Goodwood, Fontwell and Ascot. She additionally sat on the British Horseracing Authority licensing committee. She continued to breed profitable horses together with The Package deal, who received on the 2015 Cheltenham Competition. On the time of her loss of life she had horses in coaching with Ben Pauling.
Alex mentioned her mom had “an indeniable love for her horses”.
“Her persistence and kindness proven by the actual fact she didn’t thoughts in regards to the outcome, simply so long as the horse and jockey got here house secure. There was all the time one other day,” she mentioned.
Valda is survived by Alex, Alastair and Euan, her stepson Nick and 4 grandchildren.
H&H senior information author
Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to house. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting crew for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
