RACING Queensland lost one of its best with the death of Gary Palmer on Saturday night.

Gary carved his name as a champion Queensland apprentice and was a two-time Stradbroke winner on Rouslan in 1995 and Daybreak Lover in 1984, before joining the Racing Queensland stewards panel in 2012.

Eastern Downs Racing Association secretary and Warwick Turf Club past president Jim Costello said he saw Gary only a month ago.

"I would see him at Ipswich when he was working as a steward," Costello said.

"He was a top rider in his time and his sons Matthew and Michael were successful apprentices and went on to ride as fully-fledged jockeys.

"Gary was fairly quiet but was well regarded in the industry. It is good to have former jockeys as stewards as they know all the tricks of the trade."

As a trail-blazing apprentice, his first Group 1 success came in the 1977 Doomben Cup on Grey Affair, which he also won the Chipping Norton on.

Other major milestones included his win in the Toorak Handicap on Salamander as an apprentice while on loan to Tom Hughes in Victoria, and later the Queensland Derby (Florissa) and Queensland Oaks (Look Aloft).

Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon said Mr Palmer was a much-loved member of the Queensland racing fraternity and the thoughts of the industry were with his family.

"Gary grew up in a racing family. His father Ron was a trainer-jockey and his two sons Matthew and Michael went on to become jockeys themselves. His success both at home in Queensland and overseas, shows just what a true champion he was," Mr Condon said.

"Gary was also a very well-respected member of our stewards panel and it was fitting that he should continue his involvement in the industry in an officiating capacity when he stopped riding.

"The thoughts and prayers of Racing Queensland and the wider community are with Gary's family at this time."

THE next Warwick Turf Club meeting is the Allora Cup on January 31 at Allman Park. See 12-page preview on race day.