Lise Leth, widow of Klampenborg’s long-serving course commentator Henrik Leth, died at her home on Tuesday 14 October, aged 90. She worked in equine insurance for more than half a century — for many of those years side by side with her daughter Merete at Dansk Hesteforsikring — and among those she leaves behind are two grandchildren who today are among the most dedicated people in the sport.
To the racing public, Lise Leth was first and foremost part of Klampenborg. Her husband, Henrik Leth, was the course commentator there for 47 years, and his voice is what a whole generation of racegoers remembers from the race days. Since his death the track has run Henrik Leths Mindeløb every spring, and Lise Leth was always there herself with the honorary prizes in the winner’s circle.
Her working life was in insurance, and it lasted longer than most. Over the years she was at Vermund, Yorkshire Forsikring and Tryg, and when the company’s pension rules brought the Tryg years to an end in 2002, she was 67 and far from finished. Together with her daughter Merete Leth Keller she built up an equine insurance business at Himmerlands Forsikring, and in 2014 it became Dansk Hesteforsikring, launched at Dansk Varmblods Eliteskue.
She did not retire until she was 86.
The company’s name appears in several places on the Danish race card. Dansk Hesteforsikring gives its name both to Dansk Hesteforsikring Mowerinaløb — the first classic of the year — and to the Dansk Hesteforsikring jockeys’ championship.
Two of Lise’s grandchildren have made racing part of their everyday lives. Peter Leth Keller, a state-authorised public accountant, was chairman of Klampenborg Hesteejerforening until 2023 — today Racing Club Klampenborg — and together with trainer Bent Olsen he looks after the racing interests in the estate of Lone Kaj-Nielsen, who was in fact a cousin of Henrik Leth. Gustav Leth Keller is part of the successful team behind Klampenborg Galopbane.
Lise Leth herself was in the saddle from childhood, first in showjumping and later in dressage. She joined Sportsrideklubben in 1950 and sat on the club’s board from 1977 to 2015, almost four decades.
Of her three children — Merete, Jakob and Iben — Jakob won a Danish junior championship in showjumping, while Merete switched to dressage and rode for the Danish youth team.
Lise Leth remained an active owner right up to her death, through Stald Chili — the most recent win came only last Saturday at Klampenborg with Vincenzo.
Lise Leth’s funeral will be held on Friday 23 October at 13.00 from Ordrup Kirke.
Honoured be the memory of Lise Leth.
