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The racing industry is mourning the sudden loss of Goulburn trainer, Mr Graeme Spackman. The 73-year-old passed away on Tuesday morning after a short battle with cancer.

Mr Spackman was well known in country NSW as a quiet achiever and a good bloke. He enjoyed success across Southern NSW and his most recent winner was Only In Red at Nowra last October.

Among the horses Mr Spackman prepared were Wings (seven-time city placegetter), Bush Brandy (seven wins including one at Canterbury, as well as the Bong Bong & Fernhill Picnic Cups) and Via Facile (two straight Snake Gully Cups and a dual city winner).

Possibly Graeme's best galloper was Spurcent and under his care, the filly finished third to Shamekha in the Group 3 Furious Stakes at Randwick, and was third to Special Harmony in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Former jockey Benny Vassallo credits Mr Spackman with launching his career: “I rode my first four winners for him and had one of my greatest thrills in the saddle winning the Snake Gully Cup on Via Facile,” he said. Via Facile is the only horse to have won successive Snake Gully Cups in 2013 and 2014.

Shoalhaven City Turf Club issued a statement on Mr Spackman's passing: "Graeme was a long supporter of Archer Racecourse and has been a regular face at our race meetings," said SCTC's CEO, Lynn Locke.

"Graeme must have been looking down on us on Tuesday when Hangover Monday, previously trained by Graeme and now trained by Tash Burleigh, took out the second race.

"It was an emotional win for Tash as she has ridden for Graeme and is now training on his behalf. There was a big cheer from the crowd when Adrian Layt returned to the winner's circle on Hangover Monday.

"The Club wishes to pass on their condolences to the Spackman family and we will miss seeing Graeme at Archer Racecourse and he will always be remembered here at Nowra."

Funeral Details

Date: Saturday 21st January Time: 1.30pm Place: Chevallier College Chapel, 11 Charlotte Street, Bowral