Prolific owner and veteran racing administrator Andrew Ramsden has suffered a suspected stroke during Wednesday's Caulfield race meeting.

Ramsden, whose big-race wins include the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with Gurner's Lane, was a guest in the Melbourne Racing Club committee room when he became ill after the fourth race.

The former Victoria Racing Club chairman was taken to hospital and was reportedly in a serious but stable condition.

As well as Gurner's Lane, Ramsden, a stockbroker, was a part-owner of the Caulfield Cup winner Paris Lane and the well-performed stayer Niwot among many others.

The VRC renamed the Duke Of Norfolk Stakes in his honour, the race now being known as the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.