Tributes for former WATC and Darwin Turf Club chief executive Philip Neck

Philip Neck, the former chief executive of the West Australian Turf Club and Darwin Turf Club, has died aged 79.

In the early 1970s his father, Adelaide businessman and owner Bert Neck, bought a property at Oakbank and built Dibden Park Stud. The stud’s foundation mares included the Pakistan II fillies Sana Rani and Countess Wynyard. Sana Rani is the female-line ancestor of dual Everest winner Redzel. Countess Wynyard is the female-line ancestor of Coolmore Stud Stakes and Lightning Stakes winner Tentyris, now at stud. The family’s Neck Pastoral also bred VRC and QTC Derby winner Handy Proverb.

Neck was president of the South Australian breeders’ association from 1983 to 1987. As chairman of the Onkaparinga Jockey Club, he oversaw the Oakbank Easter meeting when crowds exceeded 90,000 across the two days.

Dibden Park was sold after the deaths of his father and younger brother Grant. Neck moved into bloodstock insurance and then racing administration in Perth and, from 2010 to 2013, in Darwin.

Through PDN Racing International he worked with the Asian Racing Federation on the Asian Racing Conferences. In a tribute included in the family’s statement, Hong Kong Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding wrote that Neck’s involvement had been described as “a turning point in the professional organisation of the Asian Racing Conferences”.