Sad, Sad Times

They say that tears are 1% water and 99% feelings - that could not be more true - especially when we reflect on the loss of Lisa Chittick - her loss is just so wrong on every level.

Many beautiful words have been spoken and written about Lisa since her passing last Tuesday - we all grapple to adequately express our love and our sense of loss.  Words seem so empty.

We all send our love, support and hearts to Mark and Charlotte, George and Harry and well as Marie and Dave O'Sullivan and Mary and Garry Chittick and Lisa's entire family.

In honour and with huge respect for the compassionate, warm, smart and stunning woman Lisa was - and will always remain in our hearts and minds - the Waikato Racing Club had a minute's silence after the Waikato Steeplchase presentation at Te Rapa on Saturday - silence enveloped the entire course, the riders came out of their jockey rooms - as we saluted a wonderful woman - which we share with you:

Losing someone you love rips your heart into pieces and throws your life into chaos and the future is never quite the same. 

Last Tuesday we were devastated as the news filtered out from LA that Lisa Chittick has lost her gutsy battle with leukaemia.

Many of us knew Lisa - dynamic, determined, smart, vibrant - a woman who wove magic wherever she went. She touched lives and created change.  She was driven, innovative, compassionate - a beautiful woman from the inside out and back again.  A woman who left an indelible impression on our lives and who will forever remain so loved and so respected.

Words seem futile - to Mark, Charlotte, Harry and George - this industry weeps together with you and with our loved racing families the O'Sullivans and the Chitticks.
It is so very very hard to say goodbye to the ones we love - who have so enriched our lives.

Please join with us in now across the course today and stand as we observe a minute's silence for the loss of a woman who had so much ahead of her. You will always remain in our hearts and memories - LISA.