Date posted September 1, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Racing and BreedingDual Cox Plate winning champion Northerly has been unveiled as one of seven inductees into the 2010 Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
The former Western Australian superstar was reunited at Moonee Valley Racecourse with 2008 Hall of
Fame inductee Damien Oliver who rode the horse in his first Cox Plate triumph in 2001.
The now 14-year-old joins champion racehorses such as Phar Lap, Carbine, Tulloch, Kingston Town and Makybe Diva in the Australian Hall of Fame.
The official induction ceremony is to be held at the Australian Racehorse of the Year and Hall of Fame Awards presented by Sky Racing World, Tabcorp and Staging Connections, this Sunday night in Melbourne at Crown Casino’s beautiful palladium ballroom.
Former South Australian great John Letts, who was also present at the announcement, will be inducted alongside William “Billy” Pyers in the jockey category. The other inductees are trainers Harry Plant and Jim Atkins, administrator Henry Byron Moore and star 1960’s galloper Sky High.
The 2010 Australian Hall of Fame inductees are;
COMMOTION CREATIVE HALL OF FAME HORSE INDUCTEES
Northerly – In the care of Fred Kersley, Northerly excelled under weight-for-age and handicap conditions with two Cox Plates, a Caulfield Cup, an Australian Cup and the Railway Stakes amongst his feature haul. His outstanding feats saw him named the Australian Racehorse of the Year in 2003.
Sky High – A brilliant horse who excelled from 1000 to 2500 metres and amassed an astonishing 29 wins and 19 minor placings from 55 starts. A winner of the Golden Slipper and Victoria Derby for trainer Jack Green, he enjoyed a stellar season in 1961 with victories in the Lightning Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Canterbury Stakes and the Epsom Handicap.
CROWN TOWERS HALL OF FAME ASSOCIATE INDUCTEE
Henry Byron Moore – Served as the Secretary of the Victoria Racing Club for 44 years from 1882 to 1925 and was instrumental in establishing many of the facilities and attractions that make Flemington one of the great
racecourses of the world including the members’ drive and the famous rose plantings. Moore has also been acknowledged as the visionary responsible for Oaks Day being recognised today as ‘Ladies Day’.
MICHELTON WINES HALL OF FAME TRAINER INDUCTEES
Harry Plant – Best known for his training feats with inaugural Hall of Fame inductee Bernborough who
won 15 races in succession. Plant’s feature race wins included four Doncaster Handicaps, two Golden Slippers, three AJC Sires Produce Stakes, a Newmarket Handicap, Futurity Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Stradbroke Handicap and a Doomben Cup.
Jim Atkins – A member of one of the most prominent racing families in northern New South Wales, Atkins achieved his ambition of winning the Brisbane trainers’ premiership in 1971-72. He won a further three premierships and was a regular fixture in the top 10 over the next 25 years. Atkins’ stable of stars included Dalrello, Grey Affair, Prince Ruling, Just Now, Mr Cromwell and Rock Show.
AUSTRALIANSUPER HALL OF FAME JOCKEY INDUCTEES
William “Billy” Pyers – Pyers had a remarkable start to his career - by the time he’d turned 24 in 1957
he’d won the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership seven times. He won further titles in 1959-60 and 1960-61
and counts the Caulfield Cup, Newmarket Handicap and Golden Slipper Stakes amongst his feature
wins. Pyers then embarked on a successful career in Europe with his international victories including two
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as well as the 1967 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Northerly
John Letts – In a career spanning over 30 years, Letts rode 2350 winners. His total of 97 Cup wins, 30 in the city and 67 in the country, has never been matched and includes two Melbourne Cups (Piping Lane 1972, Belldale Ball 1980), three Adelaide Cups, an Australian Cup, a Moonee Valley Cup and a Hobart Cup. In 1972-73 he won the first of his eight Adelaide jockeys premierships.
Sunday night’s ceremony will also see an existing member of the Hall of Fame awarded racing’s highest honour when they join Phar Lap, Bart Cummings and Scobie Breasley as a Legend of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Other honours to be bestowed on the night as part of the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards include;
• Sky Racing World Australian Racehorse of the Year
• Inglis Bloodstock Champion Sprinter
• Mittys Champion Middle Distance Performer
• New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing Champion Stayer
Tickets are still available for Australian racing’s night of nights and can be purchased by visiting
racingmuseum.com.au/events or by calling Customer First on 1300 139 407.
