In memory of

SIR IAN GOOD

September 1943 – October 2023

Chairman of Hamilton Park Racecourse 1999 – 2023

Founding Chairman of Scottish Racing in 2000

Awarded a CBE in 1992 and knighted in 2008 for services to industry

In collaboration with the Good family and with support from The Jockey Club, the sculpture has been created by renowned artist Michael Turner who specialises in creating unique, hand crafted artwork using marine grade stainless steel. With the working title of ‘A Dynamic Force’, each individual panel of stainless steel has been shaped by hand over a period of six months to create a sculpture that embodies the energy and excitement of horse racing, showcasing the power and grace of the horse in motion alongside the unique harmony that exists between horse and jockey.

The sculpture features some hidden references to Sir Ian’s life, legacy and influence at Hamilton Park, including a running Grouse to represent Sir Ian’s career in the Whisky industry, P.A.D in honour of his beloved horse ‘Penny A Day’, poppies in memory of all of those who have gone before us, as well as an upturned horseshoe which visitors will be encouraged to touch for good luck. A miniature of the sculpture has also been created, which will be presented annually to the winner of the memorial race run in Sir Ian’s memory each September.

Mark Johnston, British racing’s winning-most trainer and current Chairman of Hamilton Park, said of the project; “The Hamilton Park Executive has been working to ensure that an appropriate, lasting memorial to Sir Ian Good be incorporated into the grounds for our centenary year, with this unique sculpture being the culmination of those efforts.  Sir Ian was Chairman as long as I’ve been on the board and he did a huge amount for Hamilton and for racing in Scotland, and it is right that his contribution to Hamilton Park and the sport is memorialised.”

Sir Ian’s daughter, Catriona Good added: “We are delighted that Hamilton Park has commissioned this sculpture in memory of our Dad, he was incredibly proud to have been Chairman of the resort and it was a big part of his life. Michael has created something truly spectacular and has really captured all of the elements that we discussed throughout the project, and we can’t wait to see it in place within the grounds.”

Sculptor Michael Turner said: “When Hamilton Park approached me to create a memorial fitting for the memory of Sir Ian Good CBE, I was deeply honoured. With my own family roots in Glasgow, it felt like the perfect commission - a homecoming of sorts.

While my passion has always been rooted in nature and animals, particularly horses, capturing the form of the jockey presented a welcome and rigorous challenge. Through close collaboration with the Good family and Hamilton Park, we developed a clear vision: a sculpture that would eternalize Sir Ian’s legacy and his lasting impact on the sport.

As my first public commission, and one centred on a subject as scrutinized as equine anatomy, the pressure was significant. However, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. I can only hope that Sir Ian would have appreciated the work and felt proud to have it stand within the grounds of this historic racecourse.”

Ashley Moon, Racecourse Managing Director added: “This commission has been over a year in the making as we wanted to ensure that we were creating something that would not only be a memorial to Sir Ian, but something that will become a key attraction for visitors to the resort in our centenary year and beyond. We believe that Michael’s creation is unlike anything that’s permanently on display on a racecourse and represents a fitting tribute to Sir Ian’s legacy and life. It’s our intention that a formal dedication of the sculpture will coincide with our centenary racenight in July, but it will be on display ahead of the season for all of our visitors to enjoy.”

In 2025 the Hamilton Park grandstand was named in honour of Sir Ian in recognition of his immeasurable contribution to Hamilton Park and to Scottish Racing and the racing industry as a whole.

Sir Ian qualified as a chartered accountant in 1967 and two years later, having spotted an advert in the Glasgow Herald, joined the Scotch whisky company Edrington, whose brands include Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park. It was to be the beginning of a long association with the company which saw him climb to the positions of Chief Executive and Chairman.

Crucially, he oversaw the acquisition by Edrington of the then stock market-listed Highland Distillers in 1999, a deal which is reckoned to have established Edrington as a major global player in the industry. Sir Ian was a former Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association and of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board. In 2008, he was awarded a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List for services to industry.

Sir Ian owned racehorses for more than 30 years. His beloved Penny A Day won the Zetland Gold Cup in 1995, and his Victor Hewgo was a promising chaser, winning five races between 2012 and 2014. Further success on the track was achieved with the Dansili gelding, Chichester, who won the Carlisle Bell in 2021 as well as the Ganton Listed Stakes at York in 2023, whilst Evaluation, a Dubawi gelding, is the winner of multiple races having formerly been owned by the late Queen Elizabeth. Sir Ian’s passion for racing has clearly passed on to his family with his horses continuing to run under the ownership of his wife, Lady Irene and his daughter Catriona.

Sir Ian Good (left) with his beloved Penny A Day

Appointed to the board of Hamilton Park in May 1990, Sir Ian succeeded Sam Collingwood-Cameron as Chairman in 1999. His time in charge saw the development of Hamilton Park to its current position as one of the leading small independent racecourses in the UK, as well as the addition of the Hampton by Hilton Hamilton Park hotel in 2019, of which he was also the Chairman.

Sir Ian was also the founding Chairman of Scottish Racing in 2000, the body that support’s Scotland’s racing industry, as well as chairing the Racing Foundation and the Tote. He was elected to the Jockey Club in 2005 and then served as Deputy Senior Steward of the organisation. He made a huge contribution not only to Scottish racing, but also to the wider racing industry as a whole.

British racing’s winning-most trainer and current Hamilton Park Chairman, Mark Johnston said: "He was Chairman as long as I've been on the board and he did a huge amount for Hamilton and for Scottish racing. He was absolutely fantastic to work with, a very humble man but hugely experienced in small and big business alike. He was a great people person and very good at motivating the team. He was a great man and he was a very young 80-year-old mentally, so bright and with so much left to offer."

Sir Ian’s drive and passion for racing are sadly missed, however his legacy and stewardship of Hamilton Park will always be remembered and cherished.