Sir Johnny Weatherby's legacy manifests itself in many ways - and the sport is all the better for his contributions

Not long ago the Jockey Club ruled over racing without feeling obliged to justify itself to professionals or public alike. The club was not alone in that: its administrative arm, Weatherbys, was as secretive as the Grand Lodge, while Ascot racecourse treated its customers with barely disguised contempt.

It seems unthinkable now, but that was the state of play 40 years ago. And the man most responsible for the subsequent seachange was Sir Johnny Weatherby, who died last week at the age of 66. The abundance of tributes that flowed from the great and the good was thoroughly warranted.

Weatherby’s legacy manifests itself in many ways. It is a reflection of the man himself: warm and welcoming, always approachable, and an ardent believer in throwing open his arms in a gesture of embrace to allcomers. Ascot, where he was a trustee for 23 years, bears no comparison to the days when its bowler-hatted gatemen patrolled the grounds like a pack of rabid Alsatians.