Racing community out in force for funeral of owner-breeder Bobby McAlpine

Willie Carson paid tribute to "wonderful sportsman" Bobby McAlpine after his memorial service in Tarporley, Cheshire on Tuesday.

He joined several racing figures, including Barry Hills, John Gosden and Nicky Henderson, to celebrate McAlpine's life at St Helen's Church, where flowers were arranged in the colours of his silks.

The leading owner-breeder, who had major success with horses such as Cormorant Wood, Precipice Wood and River Ceiriog, died aged 89 last month and was buried at a private ceremony earlier in the day.

"It was a lovely service for a great man," said Carson. "It's a sad day for racing. He was a wonderful businessman, owner and sportsman."

Precipice Wood: winner of the 1970 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot

McAlpine, whose love of racing dated back to his time as a steward at Wolverhampton, held several positions in the sport, including as a director at Aintree and chairman of Chester and Bangor. He did this alongside serving his family's civil engineering business for 44 years.

Barry Hills trained Cormorant Wood to score in the Sun Chariot Stakes, Champion Stakes and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup in the 1980s.

His son, Charlie Hills, said: "Bobby was a wonderful man and a great family friend. He was so kind to all of us, especially mum and dad. There was a great turnout from the racing community among others. He was a very successful owner and a very good friend."

McAlpine's second wife, Angela, with whom he had a daughter, Emma, predeceased him. He also had two sons and a daughter – Euan, Christopher and Sara – by his late first wife Jane.

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Nicky Henderson leads tributes to 'one of the great characters' Bobby McAlpine

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