John McCririck's widow is flogging off his trademark clothes, jewellery and cigars because she fears they could be a target for thieves.
Controversial racing pundit John was known for his famous deerstalker hats, flamboyant suits and stacks of gold rings as he provided betting tips using hand signals at racecourses up and down Britain.
The former Celebrity Big Brother star died in July this year aged 79, and his widow Jenny has now decided to auction his expensive belongings.
Jenny said: "We suffered a burglary some years ago and it was awful."
She also explained that her husband's rings have been joined together on a chain to stop thieves.
She said: "People would shake his hands and try and take them."
Items up for auction on December 9 include several large diamond jewels, watches, his famous head-wear and cigars - with the whole collection expected to raise £50,000.
John, who referred to his wife affectionately as 'The Booby', was a "showman" according to Jenny.
"One of the reasons John dressed as he did was to enable his cameraman high in the stands to pick him out at the trackside in the crowd.
"It was a panto act, a business. He enjoyed cigars and would get the sound man to hold it while he did a piece to the camera."
She admitted he would always be truthful and tell punters if he ever thought there was something wrong in the racing world.
John fronted Channel 4's racing programming until 2013 when his time as a broadcaster ended bitterly.
He was replaced as a presenter by Clare Balding and accused the channel of ageism at an employment tribunal, which eventually ruled against him.
The pair infamously appeared together on Wife Swap in 2006 when they traded places with Edwina Currie and her husband.
Currie accused McCririck of misogyny due to the treatment of his wife - who he called 'Booby' "after a South American bird that is stupid, incredibly easy to catch and squawks a lot".
Roddy Lloyd of Rowley's of Ely, who is holding the sale, said: "I am sure many from the world of racing will want a piece of this memorabillia."
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