A trainer, jockey, horse and associate will be inducted to join fellow turf legends including Colin Hayes, John Hawkes, Pat Glennon, John Letts, Tobin Bronze, Galilee, Billy Pyers, Jim Johnson, Bart Cummings and Matrice.

The trainer finalists are:

George Hanlon - a well known racing legend now based in Victoria after kicking away his career in South Australia. Won many of Australia's feature races including the Melbourne Cup, Adelaide Cup, Australian Cup, Brisbane Cup, Sydney Cup and Caulfield Cup. Won Melbourne Cups with Black Knight, Arwon and Piping Lane. In 2000 he won the Caulfield Cup with Diatribe. Started training in Adelaide before moving to Mordiallic in 1949. In 1985 he moved to his current base at Leopold, near Geelong.

AB Macdonald - comes from a family steeped in racing history. Won a number of feature races including the Adelaide Cup, VRC Oaks, AJC Oaks and SA Derby. Trainer a number of stars including Aldershot, Farmer's Daughter, Tasman Pride and Shako, the only horse to ever lead the champion Vain. He was also president of the ATA for 20 years. Father and grandfather were trainers as were brothers George, Frank and Dave. Son Ian and grandson Peter also train.

Tom Jenner - Tom's father Tom Snr founded the Adelaide Hunt Club after moving to South Australia from Ireland. Tom trained champion gallopers Pago Pago, Matrice and Manihi. Renowned as one of the finest judges of horseflesh of his age and was commissioned by many high profile owners to buy youngsters at sales around Australia. Retired in the 1970s following a comeback after a stroke.

The jockey finalists are:

John Stocker - at outstanding rider who rode over 1850 winners from 24 years in the saddle. Won the Caulfield Cup aboard Yangtze and How Now. Was placed twice in the Melbourne Cup from 15 attempts. Rode champions including Tobin Bronze, Taras Bulba and Maybe Mahal. Stocker rode with success in South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Bob Cox - rode for 34 years. Cox holds the record for the number of winners in Adelaide during a racing season with his 90 victors in the 1966-67 season. Won a number of the state's feature races including the Goodwood Handicap, Oakbank Cup and Port Adelaide Cup. He holds the record number of wins in the state's top provincial race - the Balaklava Cup. He won the race six times from 1951 to 1971.

Des Coleman - started riding at 14 and retired after 44 years in the pigskin and over 1800 winners. He won the Adelaide Cup three times and the feature sprint, the Goodwood Handicap twice. Coleman rode successfully overseas in Turkey, Singapore (won three premierships), Malaysia, England and Ireland. He is best known in recent years as the tutor of many great riders through his work at the TAFE riding school at Cheltenham.

The horse finalists are:

Rain Lover - a bay horse by Latin Lover who was foaled in 1964. A winner at two he trained on at three to win the Adelaide Cup. At four he won the Melbourne Cup, Mackinnon Stakes, Fisher Plate, St George Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes. A season later, when five, he won the Melbourne Cup, St George Stakes, Craiglee Stakes, Underwood Stakes, The Queen's Plate and Autumn Stakes. All up he races on 47 occasions for 17 wins, 10 seconds and 8 thirds. He won over $188,000.

Dulficy - a bay by Decies foaled in New Zealand. As a three-year-old he won his first race in Adelaide at 300/1! During same season won six races including the AJC Derby, Australian Cup, VRC Derby and Rosehill Guineas. Second in the SA Derby at fourth run. As a four-year-old he won the won four races from six finishes. His most famous - a seven length romp in the Cox Plate. Was fatally injured in the Melbourne Cup at his start following his win in the Mackinnon Stakes. "The best I trained" said Colin Hayes.

Pago Pago - regarded as one of the finest juveniles to ever race in Australia. Kicked off his career by winning his second start after a placing in the Fulham Park Plate. Won his next eight starts including the Golden Slipper, VRC Sires' Produce Stakes and Merson Cooper Stakes. Was sold to American interests after his nine wins and one third from ten starts. He left Australia in 1963. He was ridden in every start by the legendary Billy Pyers.

The associate finalists are:

Kevin Sattler - born in Sydney in 1928 and died in Adelaide in 2000. A renowned journalist who's career started as a copy boy for the Sydney Sun in the early 1950s. He moved to Adelaide a few years later and became the trotting writer for The Advertiser. Later he was appointed the racing editor of The Advertiser and Sunday Mail. He held that role for 21 years. He spent stints with The News and Channel Nine as well as working in PR for the SAJC.

Kel Gillespie - kicked off his career as a messenger boy for a leading paper in Melbourne. Worked with The Herald in Melbourne and Courier Mail in Brisbane before moving to The Advertiser in Adelaide in 1946. In between he joined the army and served overseas in the Middle East and New Guinea. Spent time on radio and was regarded as a fine tipster. During his career with The Advertiser he covered every Melbourne Cup.

"Slinger" Nitschke - HC "Slinger" Nitschke is a legendary name in SA. An outstanding cricketer who smashed many centuries at the Adelaide Oval, "Slinger" is best known in the racing industry as a great breeder, stud master and administrator. Won an Adelaide Cup with Far Away Places. His trainers included Hall of Famers' Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and John Hawkes. His best horse was Dayana the four time Derby winner (and Perth Cup in same season).

The function will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on September 3.

ALREADY INDUCTED

Trainers

Bart Cummings
Jim Cummings
John Hawkes
Colin Hayes
Graeme Heagney

Jockeys

Pat Glennon
Jim Johnson
John Letts
Billy Pyers

Horses

Comic Court
Galilee
Matrice
Tobin Bronze

Associates

David Coles
Claude Haigh
Wyndham Hill Smith
Jim O'Connor
Von Doussa Family

© Cyberhorse 2024 Greg Irvine Published 15/08/05