Warm tributes for stud manager and beloved racecourse figure Willie Macauley

Willie Macauley, manager of Burton Agnes Stud and a cherished figure on the Yorkshire racing circuit, died last week aged 65.

Originally from Ireland, where he rode a number of winners as an amateur, his proudest moment in the saddle came when beating a certain Dermot Weld in a tight finish to a bumper at Down Royal.

Macauley's family ran Eyrefield Stud in County Kildare, which stood the likes of 1958 Irish St Leger winner Royal Highway, and he grew up as a twin, and one of six children.

With a background from the equestrian and hunting field, he took over the stud for a time, along with training jumpers under a permit. He later moved to England for stints at Sledmere Stud in Yorkshire, Roehoe Stud - a nursery in Nottinghamshire formerly owned by trainer Barry Hills - and finally Burton Agnes.

Situated near Driffield in the East Riding, it had a rich history of producing quality horses under the guidance of long-serving owner Marcus Wickham Boynton. Macauley arrived in 1990 and later leased the stud. Perhaps its best recent product was Buccellati, the useful stayer who won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester, was third in the Canadian International and ran in the 2010 Melbourne Cup. He also acted as a steward at various tracks in the midlands and the north.

However, it is really for his kindness and quick wit that Macauley is best remembered among those on the sales and racing circuit. He trained one particular horse, sired by Prince Regent out of the mare Mrs Bridges and, taking a leaf out of the 1970s television favourite Upstairs Downstairs, named it Passage Creeper.

His nephew Hamish said: "He was the life and soul of the party and a great man, it’s hard to explain how entertaining he was to have around. It’s obviously very sad for all the family but he died happily."

Nick Cheyne, former clerk of the course and now at Weatherbys, was Macauley's best man and had known him for more than 30 years.

"He really was tremendous fun, a man who lived life to the full," he said.

Macauley leaves behind a wife, Nicky, and two children, Nico and Alexander.

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at 3pm at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London.

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