Deano honoured by friends: “We love you to bits”

A Go Fund Me page – set up by RSN 927 to support much-loved radio personality Deane Lester following his cancer diagnosis – is getting close to tripling its original target, having now surpassed $270,000.

Friends and colleagues reflected on their favourite moments in a special tribute to the form guru during Channel Seven’s weekend racing coverage.

Fourth generation jockey Katelyn Mallyon told of Deano’s ability to read not only a race, but a jockey’s mind:

“We’re going to fight with you Deano and we love you to bits.”

Legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney spoke fondly of his colleague.

“If I could collect a couple of people and talk racing for an hour, and look them in the eye and just enjoy, Deano would be there.”

Such is Lester’s courage and determination to win, trainer Lindsey Smith observed:

“If Deano was a horse, he’d be Phar Lap.”