Alan Swinbank, racehorse trainer

He also enjoyed international success with Collier Hill, a three-time Group One winner.

The jockey Ben Curtis rode more than 50 winners for Mr Swinbank, and said his death would be felt far beyond his stables at Melsonby.

Mr Curtis said: “I rode lots of winners from him, essentially from day one. When I came over from Ireland when things dried up, the reason I made the move over was because of Alan.

“We had lots of good days and winning the Cumberland Plate on Kinema a few years ago was a real highlight.

“He loved winners at York and in the north of England, but he was also a hell of a man to buy a horse.

“You could follow him around at the sales and you wouldn’t go far wrong, as he had great judgment and great knowledge on breeding.

“He was a grand man and will be badly missed.”

Born in Sedgfield into a farming family, Mr Swinbank had worked with horses all his life. From the 1970s he trained point to point winners with the late Arthur Stephenson, and after taking out a full licence in 2001, he gained a reputation for transforming talented jumps horses into Group performers on the flat.

William Derby, chief executive at York Racecourse, recalled him as “a real stockman who knew his animals”.

“He was a stalwart of Yorkshire racing,” Mr Derby said.

“He had some good days here. One that sticks in my mind is when Libran dead-heated in a handicap at the Ebor festival.

“I once went to his yard and rode out for him. He was always very helpful. If you asked him anything he would respond with a wealth of information and insight.”

In the last five seasons Mr Swinbank had more than 170 winners, and won more than £1m in prize money for his owners. His final win was last week at Hamilton.

He is survived by two children, Julian and Michelle.