3 minute read
It didn’t matter if Kranji trainer Daniel Meagher was saddling a Singapore Gold Cup runner on May 17, he wouldn’t have missed being at Portside Ballroom, Brisbane in Australia for anything in the world on that day.
His father, former Kranji trainer John Meagher was getting inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame at a glamour gala night. Before Meagher, nine-time Singapore champion trainer and arch-rival Laurie Laxon joined the New Zealand Hall of Fame in 2017.
As soon as the family found out about the big news, Meagher Jnr dropped everything and booked his air-ticket (along with wife Sabrina and children Caiden and Harper Rose), leaving the stable operations in the good hands of his assistant-trainer Danny Beasley and his staff at the two Singapore race meetings (May 17 and 19) he missed.
No, it was no Singapore Gold Cup day or any other big raceday (Kranji Mile was held one week later), but Meagher couldn’t care less what it was – he had to be on hand to share that once-in-a-lifetime moment with the man who was not only his dad, but the mentor who made the 35-year-old trainer who he was now.
“It’s an accolade very few get. Dad is now in elite company like Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, Neville Begg, John Hawkes, Chris Waller, the list goes on,” said Meagher.
“It’s a big, big deal. Among the inductees, he was alongside the likes of Hugh Bowman, So You Think, Brent Thomson.
“You only have it for being special, and it was very well deserved for Dad, we’re all very proud of him.
“It was a fun night where we saw the who’s who of racing like James Cummings, Chris Waller, Ron Quinton, Corey Brown, Hugh Bowman, Mick Dittman, but it was also emotional for the family.
“The whole family got together, we had three tables, mum, Chris, Paul. I brought Sabrina and the kids had to be there, the cousins and aunties were also there.
“It was also good of Mr Lim Siah Mong and Eric Koh to take time out to fly over and celebrate with him on that night. It’s a night Dad will cherish forever.”
To Meagher, the honour was not bestowed onto his father for only his training achievements, be it in Australia highlighted by his Melbourne Cup win with What A Nuisance in 1985 or his 577 winners racked up at Kranji between 2000 and 2011, with the 2000 Singapore Gold Cup with Kim Angel the pinnacle.
To him, the 70-year-old was more than a horseman, he was also good at applying his polish to those on two legs as well.
“Dad was a great trainer of horses and people,” he said.
“A lot of people have gone through the John Meagher school, such as jockeys Steven King, Brett Prebble, Aaron Spiteri, but also trainers like Mick Price, Pat Carey, and myself and my brother Chris.
“Des O’Keeffe was a stable manager with him for 15 years and is now the boss of the Australian Jockeys Association. Dad has served the industry very well.”
While the kudos are well-earned, Meagher said the nod did take them a little by surprise.
“It did come a bit as a surprise to him, but looking in from the outside, the committee of the Hall of Fame have a better understanding who should be inducted,” he said.
“They look at his record, and he is a credit to the industry. Dad’s a bit overwhelmed with it as it was not expected, he didn’t work hard for that reason, but he certainly welcomes it.”
As a kid growing up in both Melbourne and Singapore, Meagher remembers his father as a man who was wholly dedicated to racing.
“Dad had no outside hobbies. He didn’t play golf or went fishing – he eats, sleeps and breathes racing,” he said.
“One thing that marked me the most about him was his attention to detail. He was big on that and I’ve learned a lot from that.
“He is old school, he would just spend his time at the stables, he is never home. He actually relinquished his licence with Chris 18 months ago, but he was getting too bored at home.
“My mum told him to get a hobby, and guess what he did. He reapplied for a licence!
“It’s come through and Chris and dad will train as partners again between the Melbourne and Brisbane stables.”
Some legends look forward to the day they walk into the sunset, and others are just not contented with staring at their trophies on the sideboard. Johnny Meagher is the latter.
“I’m very honoured to be part of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Meagher Snr.
“It was great to have my family there, Ann my wife, my sons P Meagher, C Meagher and D Meagher (in a facetious mood about his brood), and also to see Mr Lim and Eric Koh come all the way to support me.
“It’s not something I worked towards, but I’m definitely happy to get it. I actually heard something about it three months earlier, so I was in a way prepared.
“I’m back in the game. My new licence has come through and I’ll be a busy man again very soon.”
