Gabe Mahon, a familiar face on the point-to-point circuit, particularly in the South Midlands, died at home on Sunday afternoon after a short illness. He was 77...
His son-in-law Nick Pearce said: "Two weeks ago he started feeling poorly and he was diagnosed with cancer. It's been a great shock to all the family. We all went to his house on Sunday evening, shared a few drinks and played some Irish music, which he would have loved. I can best describe Gabe as 'fun'. He loved a party and he was one of those people that everybody knew. Everyone spoke highly of him, which says everything you need to know about the man. He was the son of a man who had so much influence on point-to-pointing, and Gabe loved the sport. He looked forwards to weekends and going racing, and he was always immaculately dressed at the races.
"He has died soon after his great friend Robert Chugg and I should think they are causing mayhem in heaven now. Robert, who was godfather to Gabe's son Ryan, will have been waiting at the gates with a glass of whisky in his hand."
A Warwickshire farmer, Mahon (pictured above with daughter Lara and son Ryan) was a son of one of point-to-pointing's great pioneers, Jim Mahon, who in 1977 became the founder and first chairman of the Point-to-Point Owners' Association (before Riders' was added to the title). Jim introduced Sunday racing, drove development of the air-cushioned whip and successfully pressed for a weight allowance for five-year-olds. He introduced to point-to-pointing bookmaker Sean Graham, who became the sport's first national sponsor.
Jim and Sean's wife Brenda owned Blue Cheek, who was trained by Gabe to win the 1997 Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree under then amateur Robert 'Choc' Thornton. The following year he was fancied to follow up, but unseated Ollie McPhail at the third fence.
**Gabe Mahon (rt) chats to son Leo
Other horses trained by Gabe included Chap, who was ridden by his son Leo when becoming the first point-to-point Flat race winner on a licensed racecourse (Aintree, May 2015), and the former top-class hurdler/chaser My Way De Solzen, who won five point-to-points and a hunters' chase between 2010 and 2013 when ridden by three of the trainer's four children. Another classy former rules horse who has been trained by Alan King before joining Gabe was Lake Legend.
**Gabe Mahon (rt) with Lake Legend and his daughters Lara (jockey) and Ella holding the reins. Photo Neale Blackburn
Pearce added: "I was at Gabe's house in the autumn and saw his colours in the hall. I said 'it's about time we saw those on a course again'. The final time Gabe came pointing with us was at Maisemore Park, when Azzuri, who I own with Nelly [Mahon's daughter], carried those colours to victory. I'm so glad he was there to witness the win."
Gabe was married to former point-to-point rider Cate Reynolds with whom he had four children who all achieved success in the sport. Ryan went on to become a professional jockey and is now a bloodstock agent who is married to former amateur Hannah Watson who trains pointers. He runs the family farm with brother Leo. Their sisters, twins Ella (Nelly) and Lara, rode winners and are married to well-known former amateur riders Nick Pearce and Will Telfer. Ella has worked in an admin role for Dan Skelton since he set up with a licence, while Lara works for The Jockey Club at Cheltenham racecourse. Lara was Britain's champion novice woman rider in 2015 when riding nine winners, and in 2020 she won Racing Welfare's Furlong Factor singing competition which was held during the initial Covid lockdown.