Tributes are flowing for Graham McNeice after the media “legend” died on Thursday.

McNeice, 76, was well known in sporting circles, particularly in the horse racing industry where he was a much-loved figure.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Matt Shirvington pays tribute to Graham McNeice.

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After news spread that he had lost his short health battle, Australia’s racing heavyweights were quick to pay their respects.

“(He was a) legend in media and a giant in racing,’’ Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys said.

“Even with all his contributions and achievements, the memory I have is of a beautiful human being.

“The racing and media family has lost one of its most popular members.’’

Olympian and Sunrise presenter Matt Shirvington became emotional when paying tribute to McNiece on Friday morning.

“Graham McNiece was a very good friend of mine and a brilliant contributor to the television industry,” Shirvington said on Sunrise.

“I met Graham, ‘Shadow’, we called him … as a 17-year-old. He was actually my manager who guided me through my athletics career and, I’ve got to be honest with you, I wouldn’t be on TV if it wasn’t for him.

“So, he is going to be greatly missed. He was greatly loved. He passed peacefully with his family around him. And … ummm … yeah, he was just a lovely, lovely, lovely human being.

“We’re going to miss you, ‘Shads’, and I love you.”

Sydney entrepreneur and prominent racing identity John Singleton was also devastated by the news.

“It’s a very sad day, we have lost a beautiful soul,’’ Singleton said.

“No one has a bad word to say about Graham and that is so rare in the media industry.’’

McNiece cut his teeth on radio as a 17-year-old, working with Sydney greyhound caller Frank Kennedy.

In the late 70s he joined Channel 10 and led that network’s coverage of the 1984 Olympics.

After that he joined Sky as an executive producer, but was also a leading presenter on their racing channel.

He was their for more than two decades and made many friends in the industry before heading to the Foxtel Crime Investigations Channel to produce groundbreaking crime documentaries in the mid 2000s.

Former racecaller John Tapp said McNeice’s career had been split between the media phase and the documentary phase.

“He was an absolute professional, a very slick operator during his television and radio careers, but I always thought his true craftsmanship emerged in the last two decades with his documentaries,” Tapp said.

“His kindness, compassion and above all his loyalty to friends was legendary.’’

Ray Warren — who worked with McNiece at Ten — said: “Graham was a great friend, rich in sincerity.

“He was meaningful, helpful, charitable and highly ambitious.

“His work ethic was incredible, he was prepared to work eight days in seven.’’