Point-to-point world mourn the death of promising jockey Harry Dowty
The funeral of a promising young point-to-point rider will take place tomorrow, Friday, 1 February.
Harry Dowty, 22, was found dead at his Cirencester home on Monday, 21 January having taken his own life. The police are not treating the death as suspicious.
A former student of Marlborough College in Wiltshire, Mr Dowty was in his third year of a property degree at the Royal Agriculture College, Cirencester.
Principal, Professor Chris Gaskell from the Royal Agricultural College said: “The College is extremely sad to hear about the untimely death of third year student Harry Dowty.
“As always, this is a tragedy for not only his family, but for friends and colleagues here at the college. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family.”
Mr Dowty had aspirations of becoming a professional jockey — he was yet to win under rules but was placed twice in hunter chases. He rode several winners in point-to-point, mainly for Worcestershire-based Giles and Kim Smyly.
Mr Dowty also enjoyed success with his horse Parahandy, bought for him by his father.
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A Facebook group “In Memory of Harry Dowty” set up on Tuesday 22 January, already has nearly 800 members. More than 100 wall posts from friends and family on the site pay tribute to Mr Dowty.
On the page a message from his father, George, mother, Ann and sister, Suzanne reads: “In our grief we take great comfort in the knowledge that Harry is so fondly remembered and loved by so many.”
Messages of condolence have also been left on the forum of the point-to-point site “Jumping for Fun”.
The funeral will be held this Friday, 1 February, at Withington Church. The family have requested flowers from family only but donations can be made to Papyrus (Charity for Prevention of Young Suicide).
This is the second suicide of a budding jockey in less than two years. Anna de Lisle Wells, 23, was found to have hanged herself before she was due to ride at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.