MORE than 150 people paid their respects at the funeral of the York-based larger-than-life horse racing fan William Smith.

Black horses pulled a carriage carrying the 62-year-old, who was dressed in his racecourse uniform for his final journey, and was accompanied in his coffin by a bottle of whisky and the Racing Post.

The cortege stopped at a bookmakers after family, friends and well-wishers packed a church for his funeral.

His common-law-wife Edith Smith, 46, of Cemetery Road, York, said her partner of 16 years was given the send-off he would have wanted.

She said Mr Smith, originally from Dagenham, Essex, had seen the funeral procession of York businesswoman Victoria Bage only weeks before his death and said he wanted a similar spectacle.

She added: "The funeral was wonderful. He had a fantastic send-off, and Simply The Best was played because that's what he was - simply the best.

"There were so many people there from York and around Dagenham, it was a really fitting tribute."

Mr Smith died from serious head injuries suffered in an incident outside Yates' Wine Lodge, in Low Ousegate, on Good Friday.

The camera operator for Race-Tech and Channel Four moved to York 20 years ago, but continued travelling to race courses all over the country in his work. Floral tributes were placed around the coffin, including one from the Royal British Legion in Dagenham.

Mr Smith was buried at Eastbrookend Cemetery, Dagenham, and his name was engraved on the headstone of his family plot at Dagenham Parish Churchyard.

His sister, Carol Taylor, from Dagenham, said: "He was a well- loved and well-known man. This has hit us all pretty hard."

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, June 03, 2003