Racing: Ken Cropp enjoyed his best wins with Bulginbaah

Ken Cropp will be missed. Photo / APN

Catherine Wilson lost her "second dad" and New Zealand racing was robbed of one of its hard-case characters with the death of Wanganui trainer Ken Cropp at the weekend.

Cropp died at his property on Saturday morning. He was 82.

Wilson, a training partner with Cropp for many years, said not having the "great guy" around anymore will take some getting used to.

"He was like a second dad to me. If you had a problem you just went to Kenny and he'd put it right," she said.

"He was great for a laugh, always making jokes. Just a really top man. I'm going to miss our regular chats terribly. Trackwork mornings won't seem the same anymore."

"Ken was a good bloke, good-humoured, also wisecracking. He'll be missed around the place," said Wanganui colleague Evan Rayner.

It was true Cropp loved people, but horses shared his heart.

An Australian who migrated here in the early 1950s, he raced a few good ones, but none would top Bulginbaah, still racing generously at 10 at the time of Cropp's death. Wilson said she would continue to run Cecil - as Cropp affectionately called him - in his memory.

A native of Queensland, Cropp named Bulginbaah after a horse he saw race while growing up in his homeland.

Ever the joker, Cropp said "he'll probably see me out" when asked repeatedly about retirement plans for Bulginbaah.

Apart from horse racing, Cropp was also a keen supporter of the pony shows and only days from his death, attended a local event, encouraging and advising the young riders.

Ken Cropp is survived by three daughters, Dianne, Tracey and Melina, and a son Brendan.

His funeral service will be held on Thursday at the Wanganui Room at the Wanganui Racecourse at 1.30pm.