David McGillivray passed away this week, leaving his former colleagues and friends in shock. He was known for his outstanding administrative skills in the racing world, inspiring many with his hard work and tough decisions.

David, who was 69 years old, had Irish heritage and attended school in Ireland before graduating from Gwebi College of Agriculture in Zimbabwe. He began his career in agriculture, specializing in land irrigation.

His journey in horse racing started in 1987 when he became a stipendiary steward in the Eastern Cape. In 1990, he moved to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and served as senior steward until 1993. The following year, he became Deputy Chairman of the KZN Stipendiary Board.

In 1994, David was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Central Provinces (Johannesburg and Vaal/Bloemfontein/Kimberley) and later became Chairman, serving until 1996. He then moved to Malaysia, where he worked as a stipendiary steward until 1999 and later became Chief Stipendiary Steward, serving from 1999 to 2003. He held the position of Director of Racing Operations and Professional Racing Steward from 2003 to 2006.

David returned to South Africa as Chairman of the Western Cape Stipendiary Board from July 2006 to October 2007. He was persuaded to return to Malaysia, serving as Chief Steward from November 2007 to August 2009 and as Professional Racing Steward from September 2009 to February 2013. He returned to South Africa in March 2013 as Racing Control Executive and Director of the National Horseracing Authority (NHA).

In 2014, David moved to Qatar, where he worked until 2021. His final role was back in Malaysia as a steward until his passing.

David's life was threatened in Malaysia when he was attacked by thugs attempting to intimidate him. He was injured in the attack, leaving his arm disabled.

McGillivray will be remembered for his tough but fair approach and his commitment to maintaining high standards. He was often sought after by various nations for his unique capabilities. SAHorseracing.COM staff met him at an Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai in 2016, where his extensive knowledge left a lasting impression. Rest in peace, David.