Ross McDonald is being remembered as one of racing's great characters and a master horseman.

The much respected multiple Group One winning trainer died on Tuesday morning after a battle with illness following heart surgery earlier this year.

McDonald prepared a number of star gallopers during his career including 2007/08 Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, the winner of seven Group One races.

He began his training career after the death of his wife Margaret's father Bon Hoysted. the original trainer of Manikato.

McDonald's accomplishments include two Caulfield Cups during the 1980s with Tristarc (1985) and Imposera (1988).

He also prepared star juvenile Courtza to win the coveted Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double in 1989.

"Rosco, as everyone referred to him, was a larger than life character," Australian Trainers' Association Victorian branch president Robbie Griffiths told Melbourne radio station RSN.

"He was a fantastic trainer, just a great guy and was a great supporter of everyone that was around him in racing. So it's a very sad day for all."

McDonald's son Clinton, also a trainer at Caulfield, announced his father's death on Twitter.

"Sad to say my father/mentor/mate passed away this morning at 6.00am. At peace now fought so hard so proud of him. We will (miss) u big man," he said.

Jockeys will wear black armbands in the opening race at Mornington on Wednesday in which the Clinton McDonald-trained Belle Melba is scheduled to run.

Weekend Hussler's jockey Brad Rawiller labelled McDonald a true champion.

"Deeply saddened by the news of Ross McDonald's passing after flying home from Hong Kong! True champion who I will never forget #adadtome #RIP," Rawiller tweeted.

Wayne Treloar, the regular rider of Tristarc, said McDonald was a big man with big heart.

"He was a character. He was like a big bear, he had a big heart and he was a big bloke. He was an easy-going fella. It was like riding for your mate," Treloar told RSN.

"He was just an all-round good bloke and he could deal with the good and deal with the bad. That's what a lot of people can't handle, but he seemed to handle it all his life."

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF TRAINER ROSS MCDONALD

* Following the death of his father in law Bon Hoysted, McDonald took over the training of Magari who won three Group One races now known as the Rupert Clarke, Toorak Handicap and Emirates Stakes.

* Won the Caulfield Cup with Tristarc in 1985 and three years later won it with Imposera.

* In 1989, he trained Courtza to become just the third horse two win the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double

* Weekend Hussler became the best of his generation with six Group One wins as a three-year-old including the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and George Ryder against the older horses.