ONE of the country's foremost racehorse trainers has died suddenly aged 76.

The former dual-purpose trainer, who saddled over 2,000 winners in a pioneering career, died of a suspected heart attack at her family's stables near Saltburn on Monday morning.

Her son Keith Reveley said: "She was walking about the yard and was with Gill Boanas, who is training there now.

"She was around the horses, feeding them, and basically collapsed of a suspected heart attack.

"We're all still in shock, but it's just typical of her that she was around horses right up to the end."

Based at Groundhill Farm stables in Saltburn, east Cleveland, Mary Reveley took out a training licence with just four horses in 1982 but soon emerged as a powerhouse of the northern circuit.

She was the first woman in Britain to saddle 100 winners in a calendar year, having reached the significant milestone in 1991.

In the same year she landed the Cambridgeshire handicap at Newmarket with her favourite horse, Mellottie.

In 1992, she then became the only British female to claim 50 victories in a Flat season.

She twice won the Cesarewitch with Old Red (1995) and Turnpole (1997), while the likes of Cab On Target, Marello, Seven Towers and Into The Red secured big-race victories over jumps for Reveley.

She retired from training in 2004 and passed on the baton to her son, who announced his own retirement this January.

Redcar Racecourse was among those to pay tribute this morning.

Many of Mrs Reveley's winners came to her local racetrack and Amy Fair, general manager of Redcar, said: “Mary’s horses were feared all over the country but nowhere more so than here at Redcar.

"She loved to have winners at her local racecourse and was one of the most popular and respected trainers of her generation.”

Mr Reveley said: "The only good thing was that she didn't suffer at all.

"She always loved been on the farm and wasn't ever keen on going races as she just wanted to be around the horses.

"She did it all without any publicity and always wanted to stay out of the limelight.

"Even in spite of not wanting publicity, she was sent all these horses and enjoyed wonderful success.

"Her favourite horse all along was Mellottie. We bred him ourselves and he was her first ever foal.

"We bred him as jumper but he was just a freak on the Flat and went from a mark of 60 up to 110, winning Listed races at Newmarket and also the Cambridgeshire.

"The memories we have of her are just amazing.

"Her career was unbelievable and we didn't appreciate at the time just how successful she was."

Reveley's grandson, James, who is the current National Hunt champion jockey in France, said: "Nan was my biggest supporter.
"She was a very wise woman and the most loving grandmother you could wish for. May she rest in peace."