A minute’s silence has been held at a horse racing event after the wife and two daughters of BBC Racing commentator John Hunt were killed in a crossbow attack.

Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, died in Bushey, Hertfordshire on Tuesday, and suspect Kyle Clifford was later found seriously injured after a manhunt.

Those attending Ladies Day at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk paused to pay their respects, jockeys wore black armbands and a fellow commentator paid tribute on air.

Racecourse general manager Sophie Able said they and The Jockey Club wanted to show their support to Mr Hunt.

“John is part of our racing family, racing is a very special community and we wanted to let him know that all of us here are thinking about him during this difficult time,” she said.

“It was obviously very shocking and we just want him to know we are here to support him in any way we can.”

Mr Hunt would have been at the July Festival as part of his BBC commentating duties.

Racegoer Ian Musk, from Cambridgeshire, was among those who observed the minute’s silence.

He said: “It’s hard to imagine how anyone would cope with that sort of tragedy.

“To see everyone here paying tribute, I hope it goes some way to show how much we care.”

ITV racing commentator Richard Hoiles paid tribute at the start of his coverage.

“It’s impossible to rationalise such a heinous, pointless and terrible act in modern-day society,” he said.

“I’ve known John for 30 years. If you spend even a few moments in his company, the odds are that the talk will turn to family.

“It has been a folklore that after our annual shindig at Christmas 20-odd years ago, we’d all retired to the local pub and out would come John’s wallet with pictures of the girls at primary school.

“Words just seem hollow and inadequate in such circumstances and all we can try and do is provide some crumb of comfort by trying to exhibit the warmth and respect in which John and his family are held.”