Friends and family have remembered a former rugby player and farm manager who had a horse race named in honour of his life. 

Chris Ascroft played around 500 games for Huntingdon & District Rugby Club across four decades, as well as serving as club president in the 2002-03 season. 

Mr Ascroft died aged 65 on February 1 last year and to commemorate his life, the opening race on the card at Huntingdon Racecourse on January 27 was named after him. 

Following the Pertemps Network Chris Ascroft Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase, won by Grandeur D’Ame trained by Alan King, prizes were presented by Mr Ascroft’s daughter Clare and his widow Zoe. 

The Hunts Post: Grandeur D'Ame, trained by Alan King, won the Pertemps Network Chris Ashcroft Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase.Grandeur D'Ame, trained by Alan King, won the Pertemps Network Chris Ashcroft Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase. (Image: Graham Clark)

“We are humbled to have a race run in his name, especially as it was run at the track next to the rugby club which was such a key part of his life for many years,” said Clare. 

“Although farming, rugby and cricket were his life, he did enjoy a day out at the races and he would enjoy a little flutter on the horses.” 

Chris, of Yelling, was also farm manager for Wilbraham Farms in Great Wilbraham for 41 years and spent much of his life outside of work on the rugby pitches next to the racecourse track. 

Clare admitted that Mr Ascroft would have enjoyed having a race named after him. 

“Dad was very much a larger than life character who was very sociable and outgoing and he always had a smile on his face,” she said. 

“He would have loved that there was race named after him.  

“He would have relished in this as it would have been all about him and he would have loved it.” 

Clare added: “He was a bit of a showman so he would have played up to the crowd as well.”