KEVIN Smith, founder of the Racing Club of Ireland, died on Tuesday morning after a long illness. He was 83.

The RCI was incorporated in March 1982, primarily to campaign for better treatment for racegoers and punters.

Betting tax rates stood at 20% at that time, racecourse facilities were poor and betting offices were generally filthy.

As the club developed, it took on board issues of human and equine welfare and raised considerable sums for racing and equine charities.

The club had over 700 members at its peak. Its annual racing quizzes and awards dinners became highlights of racing’s social calendar. Vincent O’Brien and Lester Piggott were among the guests to attend the awards. Sir Peter O’Sullevan became a friend and supporter of the club’s work.

Never short on ambition, Smith invited President Mary Robinson to attend the 1996 awards dinner and she accepted, presenting a young Aidan O’Brien with an award on the night in Fitzpatrick’s Hotel in Killiney, Co Dublin.

Supported by his wife Rosaleen, Smith and his RCI committee organised regular trips to racing stables and stud farms.

Constantly championing the racegoer, Smith was tipped for a seat on the board of the newly-constituted Horse Racing Ireland in 2001. However, the spot was instead given to a representative of stablestaff. A racegoers’ consultative forum was established as part of the new legislation.

Equine welfare was another area of huge interest to Smith. When the RCI ceased operating in 2003, he founded HEALS, a voluntary body to promote the role of the horse in human therapy and rehabilitation. He also devoted time and energy to promoting the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, Riding for the Disabled and other equine welfare groups.

A keen punter, Smith loved the Tote Jackpot and once won a six-figure sum at Leopardstown.

He continued to follow racing closely until his eyesight and health began to fail over the past six years. He passed away at TLC Nursing Home in Maynooth, Co Kildare. His funeral mass was in Newbridge on Thursday followed by burial in Drimoleague, Co Cork

Trainers John Oxx and Aidan O’Brien and HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh were among those to pay tribute to Smith’s work on behalf of racing this week.

Oxx said: “Kevin was a most enthusiastic follower of racing and racing people. He did a great deal to promote the sport through the Racing Club of Ireland.

“He introduced the club members to the background of racing through many visits to trainers’ yards and stud farms. In many ways he was ahead of his time but his dedication to anything he believed in made him strive to excellence. His illness has kept him away from racing for some years and we have all missed him.”

Brian Kavanagh said: “Kevin was a gentleman and a great fundraiser for worthy causes. He was tireless when he got stuck into something and always had the best interests of racegoers at heart.”

Aidan and Annemarie O’Brien praised the work he had done in opening up racing to new people and to highlight important equine welfare issues.

A Corkman and son of two doctors, Smith was educated at Blackrock College in Dublin where he played rugby at a high level alongside Tony O’Reilly. He was president of the Students Representative Council at UCD and the Irish Students Association (now USI). He worked as a management consultant and was involved in politics in the 1960s.

MC