The horse trainer passed away on January 10.

Spackman was well-known in country NSW as a quiet achiever and a good bloke who enjoyed racing success.

Goulburn Race Club chief executive Robyn Fife extended condolences to Spackman’s widow, Judy, and family.

“It is an incredibly sad time for Graeme’s family, friends and the racing industry,” Ms Fife said.

“We have lost a true gentleman and a very talented horseman.”

Spackman would be remembered “without doubt as the most outstanding all-round sportsman,” said friend Geoff Goodfellow, who knew Spackman in part through his time at the Bong Bong Picnic Race Club in Bowral.

“He was a superb horseman and one of the finest polocrosse players in the world,” Mr Goodfellow said.

“If my memory serves me correctly, he was also the NSW country table tennis champion, winner of around 10 first grade basketball premierships, an outstanding golfer and winner of district championships in both tennis and squash.”

Another friend, Nick Campbell-Jones, said Spackman was the best horseman he had ever seen.

“I’ve been around horses all my life and no-one compared to Graeme,” Mr Campbell-Jones said.

“Most people would agree that he was the best polocrosse player in the country.

“He played right through from 1954 up until about 10 years ago.” 

Mr Campbell-Jones, who grew up with Spackman, said his friend would be sorely missed.

“He was a great friend and a very good man, he would never blow his own trumpet so to speak.”

Spackman was the second district trainer in history to prepare a Bong Bong Cup winner when five-year-old gelding Give Way took the title in Bowral in 2004. He again had Cup victory in 2010 with Central Act.

Among the horses Mr Spackman prepared were Wings (seven-time city placegetter), Bush Brandy (seven wins including one at Canterbury, as well as the Bong Bong and Fernhill Picnic Cups) and Via Facile (two straight Snake Gully Cups and a dual city winner).

Spackman’s legacy lived on at the Nowra races on Tuesday. Hangover Monday, previously trained by Spackman in his riding days, won the Shoalhaven City Council Benchmark 57 Handicap (1200m).

New trainer Tash Burleigh worked with Spackman as his foreman before becoming a trainer and was overcome with emotion after the win.

Hangover Monday was geared up in Spackman’s colours of yellow, red stars and cap. Each of the other jockeys wore a black armband to commemorate Spackman.

Shoalhaven City Turf Club chief executive Lynn Locke said Spackman “must have been looking down on us on Tuesday when Hangover Monday … took out the second race.

"It was an emotional win for Tash as she has ridden for Graeme and is now training on his behalf. There was a big cheer from the crowd when [jockey] Adrian Layt returned to the winner's circle on Hangover Monday.”

She sent condolences to the Spackman family. “We will miss seeing Graeme at Archer Racecourse and he will always be remembered here at Nowra."

Bong Bong Picnic Race Club secretary/manager Peter Hales confirmed there were plans to hold Spackman’s funeral at the racecourse on Kangaloon Road in Bowral.

“He was a stalwart of the club and we’d do anything possible for his family,” Mr Hales said.

A date and time is yet to be advised.