Racecourse pays tribute to Sam
Minute’s silence for ex-general manager
Punters and racers alike came together at Perth Racecourse on Wednesday to pay respects to Sam Morshead.
The former general manager at Perth died after a long illness on Tuesday at the age of 63.
His wife Anthea, children Henry, Charlie and Harry and stepchildren Andrew and Fiona were at his bedside.
A minute’s silence took place in the parade ring before the first race of the season-ending Glorious Finale, while jockeys wore black armbands.
Hazel Peplinski, Perth Racecourse chief executive, said: “Sam’s legacy at Perth is all around us and every day we appreciate all that he achieved for the racecourse over his long and successful tenure.
“Sam and his chairman, the late David Whitaker, never lost focus that we are in the entertainment business and what we sell is fun.
“It is very sad news that Sam has passed away and first and foremost our thoughts are with his family and many friends.
“However, it is of some comfort to the team that we opened our gates to so many people who will remember him fondly.”
Sam grew up near Dublin and enjoyed a successful career as a jump jockey, starting seven times in the Grand National.
He arrived in Scotland as a trainee clerk at Ayr Racecourse before moving on to Musselburgh, Kelso and then, in 1989, Perth. He took over as general manager in 1994.
Sam was credited with transforming the Perth track, overseeing £6 million of developments and attracting bigger crowds as well as top jockeys to the UK’s most northerly course.
He was even there to see the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall among the crowd in 2011.
In 2015 his wife Sue passed away from breast cancer while Sam was told his own prostate cancer had returned. The news led to him stepping down from his frontline role at the racecourse, but he remained in Perthshire.
His commitment to racing and racing welfare Sam Morshead was a popular figure in horse racing
saw him honoured with the Pride of Racing’s Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2013.
In 2017 he was awarded an MBE for services to horse racing.
Two years ago he received a lifetime achievement award at the Perth Chamber of Commerce Star Awards, and he praised Perthshire’s “fantastic” people and “lovely community” in his acceptance speech, as well as poking fun at himself.
He said: “I was certainly an accidental racecourse manager and I have been an accidental author. In fact my whole life is a complete accident.
“I have had a fantastic time and I have enjoyed working in Perthshire very much.”