Leading Owner And Philanthropist John Murrell Dies 

Leading owner and philanthropist John Murrell has died. Through the red and yellow colours of his wife Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez, Murrell has been associated with Group 1 winners such as Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire), Man O'War Stakes winner Zhukova (Ire), Moyglare Stud winner Intricately (Ire), Fillies' Mile and Matron Stakes winner Iridessa (Ire) and more recently, Tattersalls Gold Cup hero White Birch (GB). 

At just 25, Murrell owned 30 horses and had a training yard in Newmarket. His early successes on the racetrack included Cawston's Clown, winner of the 1976 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and multinational Group 1 winner Gentilhombre, who won consecutive runnings of the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in 1976 and 1977. Both horses were trained by Neil Adam.

However, when John sold his UK chemical business and moved to Spain, he turned his attention to golf [also becoming involved in the development of the La Manga resort] and left racing for years. 

He returned to the sport around 2000 and operated a husband-and-wife partnership with the horses running in the name and colours of his wife Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez. Murrell's preferred strategy in these later years was to buy horses of racing showing early potential, as opposed to buying unproven yearlings at auction.

Murrell was also a noted collector of old master paintings, particularly from the Spanish school, and in recent years donated or loaned several important works to the Prado Museum in Madrid.