3 minute read
Horse’s breeder
David Whitaker
David first joined The Perth Hunt in DAVID WHITAKER 1978, continuing a family association with the racecourse through his wife, David first joined The Perth Hunt in 1978, Fiona. She is the daughter of the late continuing a family association with the Col. Dewhurst, a previous chairman racecourse through his wife, Fiona. She is the daughter of the late Col. Dewhurst, a of the Executive Committee, and previous chairman of the Executive David followed in that role in Committee, and David followed in that 1996. David was committed to the role in 1996. I first met him in 1986 when I was elected to the committee and it was progress and development of the immediately obvious that David was course. committed to t development of the he progress course. and The initial development was to build the Dewhurst Stand The initial development was to build the Dewhurst Stand in 1986 in in 1986 in order to start creating modern facilities for order to start creating modern facilities for members and race-goers. members and race-goers. That was followed in 2006 That was followed in 2006 with the building of the Nelson Stand, the with the building of the Nelson Stand, the cost of which cost of which appeared frightening initially, but it was soon obvious that the facility would generate its own income to take care of the financing appeared frightening initially, but it was soon obvious that costs which David had predicted. the facility would generate its own income to take care of The final project overseen by David was to see the new stable block the financing costs which David had predicted. completed in late 2015 enabling the transfer of horses by road from the old stablesacouple of miles or so away to come to an end. This project The final project overseen by David was to see the new ran in tandem with The Lodge at Perth Racecourse coming on stream stable block completed in late 2015 enabling the transfer in early 2016 and David was able to know that this facility had come to of horses by road from the old stables a couple of miles fruition before he died. or so away to come to an end. This project ran in tandem David was a founder member of Scottish Racing Marketing Ltd, a with The Lodge at Perth Racecourse coming on stream company set up by the five Scottish racecourses in 2000 to identify and pursue matters of common interest to Ayr, Hamilton, Kelso, in early 2016 and David was able to know that this facility Musselburgh and Perth. This company still looks after areas of joint had come to fruition before he died. matters of importance to all the courses and he is remembered with great fondness by the chairmen of the four other courses outside Perth. David was a founder member of Scottish Racing Marketing Ltd, a company set up by the five Scottish racecourses I greatly valued his friendship, acumen and advice throughout the thirty years I knew him. I do miss this as do the other members of the in 2000 to identify and pursue matters of common committee, the board of Scottish Racing, the members of the Perth interest to Ayr, Hamilton, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth. Hunt and racing in general. We shall not forget him. This company still looks after areas of joint matters of importance to all the courses and he is remembered with John S Gellatly great fondness by the chairmen of the four other courses Chairman The Perth Hunt outside Perth.