Racing fan Nigel Latham, trackside at Morphettville, will be laid to rest in Britain
A racing fan who fulfilled a dying wish by watching racing from his hospital bed on the infield at Morphettville in Adelaide earlier this month has passed away.
Nigel Latham, 58, died on May 3, just two days after ambulance staff granted his request to stop off at the race meeting while he was on his way home to start palliative care.
He saw Craig Williams ride three winners, including a G1 win on Instant Celebrity for which the jockey said Latham had been the inspiration, later handing him his whip as a souvenir.
The story became global viral news.
Latham, a member of the South Australian Jockey Club who owned shares in two horses, was born in Britain and moved to Australia in 2006. He wanted to be laid to rest in his birthplace.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and the rest of the family.”@CWilliamsJockey is grateful for the people who granted Nigel Latham his last wish. 💙 pic.twitter.com/X7YSKeNllw
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 15, 2021
A family statement said: “Nigel’s final wish was to come home where his final resting place will be under the shadow of the Malvern Hills. Internment of ashes will be in Great Malvern at a later date when COVID travel restrictions allow.”
The chosen charities in lieu of flowers are the Bob Champion Cancer Trust in the UK and the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group.
This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.
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