The Tasmanian racing industry is in mourning with the sudden passing of Nigel Schuuring.
A respected trainer, clerk of the course and all-round horseman, Nigel will be remembered fondly by those in the industry.
Nigel became a good mate of studmaster and fellow trainer Graeme McCulloch when he took up residency at a neighbouring property at Whitemore.
“Yesterday when I heard about it I couldn’t believe it, I was talking to Nigel at 6 o’clock the night before he died and he was just his same old self, I just can’t believe that at 49 years old we would lose him like that,” McCulloch said.
“I met Nigel years and years ago when he worked on King Island and he sent a mare to one of my stallions, but we became good mates when he ran Aceland Stud for Alwyn Shaw. I struck up a friendship with him, he was easy going, always willing to help people, just a genuine nice bloke.”
Nigel dabbled in breeding and was a capable horse breaker, enjoying plenty of success with a horse McCulloch bred, Willby Rules by West Quest.
Willby Rules had 73 starts for 11 wins and 16 minor placings, with 10 of those wins coming at Devonport.
“He was friends with everyone here at Devonport,” Club chairman Barry Milton said.
“He was well known to many people here, everyone on the committee knew Nigel, he was a bit of a character who spoke his mind, he will certainly be missed and very fondly remembered by all.”
Nigel was also president of the Tasmanian Trainers Association for five years, with his successor in the role, Stephen Shaw, paying tribute.
“It was very sad news when I found out, Nigel did a lot for our industry particularly when he was president of the trainers association, he was a diligent worker, there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, a lot of work that people don’t understand with the ATA and Nigel did a great job,” Shaw said.
“And to be clerk of the course is a task in itself these days, it’s not an easy job, probably a thankless job at the end of the day when you’re up carting your horse from one end of the state to the other, it’s a special breed of person that can do it.
“He’s going to be sadly missed, I used to love talking to him, we would sit at the races and have a great chat, the news of his passing has really shocked me,” Shaw said.
Nigel’s Facebook page is beginning to fill with tributes, all echoing the thoughts of those involved in the Tasmanian racing industry.
Funeral details to come.