The son of a naval officer, William Patrick Filmer-Sankey was born in Ireland on April 4, 1900.
He was a leading Polo player and played tennis at Wimbledon.
His biggest wins included the 1917 Irish Grand National on Pay Only, the 1922 Valentine Chase on Pay Only and the Grand Military Gold Cup three times - on Pay Only, 1921 & 22, and Ruddyglow, 1925.
He died, aged 85, at Loch Assynt in Scotland on September 24, 1985, and was cremated at Perth Crematorium.
His son, Christopher, died - aged 28 - on February 3, 1957, following a fall from John Archer in a chase at Gowran Park on January 31, 1957.
Article by Chas Hammond