A MOTHER is trying to raise more than £1,000 to stage a horse race in memory of her daughter, who was killed three years ago.

Catherine Marr, 30, originally from the North-East, died when the driver of a car in which she was a passenger overtook a vehicle on the brow of a hill near Newmarket, Suffolk, clipped an oncoming car and veered into a tree.

Miss Marr, a head stable girl in Newmarket, died instantly.

The driver of the car, racehorse trainer Jeff Pearce, 53, was jailed for drink-driving after he was found to be 40 per cent over the limit.

He has since been released, after serving two-thirds of his four-year sentence.

Now Catherine's mother, Maureen Simon, of Wingate, east Durham, is organising a memorial race for her daughter, the Cathy Marr Memorial Stakes, at Newmarket.

Catherine left her home in Wingate to join Pearce's Newmarket stables 12 years ago, working her way up to head girl.

Her mother felt that a horse race would be the most fitting tribute to her.

Mrs Simon has been trying since Catherine's death to gain permission for the event and it was finally granted at the beginning of this month, on what would have been her daughter's birthday.

Mrs Simon said: "When I was told I could definitely have the race, it was like winning the Lottery. It was absolutely brilliant."

The race organisers have waived the normal fee of £8,000, but Mrs Simon will have to raise more than £1,000 to meet the costs.

The money must be raised by the end of June, six weeks before the race on August 9.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mrs Simon on 0771 2226254.