TRAINER Rebecca Bastiman has passed away at the age of 40.
The Yorkshire-based handler died after battling a long-illness.
In 2015 Bastiman took over the licence from her dad Robin, who was later banned from the sport for three years after he was found to have injected a horse with cobalt in August 2018.
His daughter trained over 100 winners during her career and they were best known for their association with high-class sprinter and Nunthorpe Stakes hero Bordlescott.
In 2019 Bastiman needed emergency surgery after a fall on the gallops. It left her with a broken arm and hand, a dislocated shoulder, two cracked ribs and a fractured pelvis.
A statement on the trainer's Facebook page said: "Sadly Rebecca Bastiman has peacefully passed away after a long illness.
"Being a trainer was her dream her life, her everything, she put 110% into the love and care of her four legged friends.
"She had a natural aura around horses they loved her and she loved them. She got horses that had lost their way and sweetened them up and let them be horses, and in return they won for her.
"Rebecca was a dedicated trainer and a hard worker, she was first on the yard and last to leave, she mucked out and rode out and loved the challenge of problem horses and sweetening them up.
"In her time as a trainer she had some fantastic memorable days racing and trained over 100 winners, and rode 3 winners herself as an amateur jockey.
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"Rebecca will leave a hole in many people’s hearts but her legacy will go on and never be forgotten.
"The world has lost a special, beautiful person but the heavens have gained an angel."
Jockey Paul Mulrennan paid tribute on Twitter.
He said: "Very sad news to hear of the passing of Rebecca Bastiman a lovely lady who absolutely loved her horses myself and @acmulrennan send our sincere condolences to Beckys family, friends and all at GooseMoor Farm."
Trainer Julie Camacho said: "We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Rebecca Bastiman’s family and friends.
"She is a big loss to the racing world and we are so sorry to hear of her passing."
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