Tributes paid following death of popular RM Mick Smith

MICK SMITH, the former racing manager, died on Tuesday, aged 73.

For many years Smith was part of the GRA furniture, sitting in the hot seat at the group’s Wembley, Catford, Belle Vue and Wimbledon tracks, while he also worked at Hackney, Romford, Nottingham, Coventry, Hull and Doncaster.

Smith’s son Mark contacted the Racing Post yesterday and said: “We wanted to let the industry know of Dad’s death as I know he met and worked with a lot of people during his many years in the sport.

“He was a great dad and real family man and in recent years has been caring for my mum and making sure she was okay, but he still kept an eye on the sport as it was one of his life passions along with West Ham and the music of T-Rex and Sparks.

“He was always fastidious about his appearance and I remember him once being described as ‘the Farah King’ for the trousers he wore!

“Greyhound racing gave him a great life, he loved his time at Wembley and was always grateful for the career guidance he got from Bob Rowe at the GRA.

“As a kid we would go racing wherever he worked and I remember the big nights at Catford with its brilliant atmosphere.

“I’m trying to get in touch with people personally, and just shared an emotional chat with Robert Henigan in Australia, who worked with my dad at Catford. I can only apologise to those I can’t reach personally to let them know.

“Dad loved the old days when people had to come racing to watch the dogs run and have a bet, and I know he rated Charlie Lister as the best trainer he worked with. His death was unexpected and leaves a big hole in our lives.”

The Racing Post’s Phil Donaldson, also a former racing manager with the GRA, said yesterday: “I had the pleasure of working with Mick over the years and he was just one of those people who was so easy to get along with.

“He was fair and diligent and had a passion for the sport which started at a very young age and saw him initially work as a reporter on the old Greyhound Express back in the late 1960s.

“He worked at many tracks and left his mark as a man of integrity wherever he went.

“I remember spending a fantastic day with him for a Racing Post feature back in 2008 when he’d taken up the role as RM at Hull after it reopened for a spell. It was a shame that reincarnation didn’t last long as he was definitely enjoying the challenge.

“He always said Wembley was his favourite track, although I know he was proud of getting Scurlogue Champ to run at Catford during his time there.

“He was just a genuinely nice guy and will be missed.”

Among those to pay tribute yesterday were former colleagues Simon Harris and Andy Lisemore, with Harris saying: “I’m gutted to hear of Mick’s death. He was a top-drawer racing manager whose grading was always tight and fair as well as consistent, but he was also a great bloke who everybody got on with. He’ll be sadly missed.”

Lisemore said: “Mick gave me my first ever job as a teenager at Wembley back in the 1990s, took me under his wing and taught me everything.

“He was a great mentor and friend and I’ve always tried to emulate his teachings since.

“Always helpful and respectful to others, Mick was genuinely one of the good guys and I’m deeply thankful to have known him.”

Funeral details will be released at a later date.

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