Hall of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald has nothing but good memories of his close friend David Balfour who has died in Adelaide after a long illness aged 62.

After spending 18 years as a jockey, Balfour switched to training and plied his trade in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.

He began a training partnership with his son Ryan and earlier this year handed over his Morphettville stable to him when he became too ill.

"We have been friends forever and had a lot of fun together," Macdonald said.

"He has been very ill for the past few weeks."

Thoroughbred Racing South Australia chief executive Jim Watters offered his condolences to David's family and friends on behalf of the state's close-knit racing family already in mourning over the death of apprentice Caitlin Forrest in a race fall at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.

"While David had a highly successful training career, he was also a much-loved and highly regarded member of the South Australian racing community and will be sadly missed," Watters said.