BREAKING NEWS Horse racing community rocked by tragic sudden passing of trainer Robbie Laing
The racing community has been rocked by the sudden death of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing, who passed away in his sleep overnight.
Laing, 67, won four Group 1's and notched up a total of 930 winners throughout his legendary training career.
He trained Roman Arch to an upset victory in the Australian Cup at Flemington in 2006.
Seven years later, Laing's powerful Polanski claimed victory in the 2013 Victoria Derby.
In recent years, the horseman had come back from bankruptcy to return to the top ranks of racing.
Tributes have flowed in from racing personalities following the tragic news.
'Thoughts to the extensive family and many friends of legendary horseman Robbie Laing on hearing his sudden passing,' wrote journalist Bruce Clark.
RIP Robbie Laing - a great horseman and such a likeable bloke,' posted Peter Angus.
'Often I would tell Robbie Laing he should write a book. Highly entertaining, great storyteller, incredible knowledge and not afraid to be different,' posted presenter Ben Sporle.
Ex-jockey and trainer Gavin Bedggood remembered the trainer as 'a man who was very good to me'.
'Gave me my first horse as a trainer, many winners as a rider and plenty of advice over the years. Was never given the credit he deserved as a trainer — always had a good two-year-old, handicapper and jumper. Rest easy,' he posted to X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Billy Slater makes bombshell call ahead of State of Origin II as Daly Cherry-Evans is shockingly SNUBBED
Queensland 's Daly Cherry-Evans has become the first State of Origin captain dropped mid-series this century, as one of several huge Billy Slater selection calls. Slater will name a 20-man squad for Origin II on Monday morning, but AAP has been told Tom Dearden will replace Cherry-Evans in the No.7 jersey in Perth next Wednesday. Beau Fermor is the other player dropped after the Maroons' series-opening 18-6 loss at Suncorp Stadium, with Kurt Capewell set to replace him. Kurt Mann is then expected to take Dearden's spot on the Maroons' bench, after acting as 18th man in game one. Notably, Slater has also called Ezra Mam into the Maroons' extended squad, just three games into his return from a nine-match ban for drug driving. Mam is not expected to be part of Slater's 17, and will need scans before entering camp after injuring his knee in Brisbane 's win over Gold Coast. Canberra prop Corey Horsburgh will also act as a reserve after missing out on a spot in the pack, while Melbourne centre Jack Howarth is also in the 20-man group. The Maroons are also confident prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will be fine to play, despite suffering a knock in the Titans' loss to Brisbane on Saturday and requiring pain-killing injection to his sternum at halftime. The call to leave Cherry-Evans remains one of the most seismic in recent memory from either state. He has been the Maroons' first-choice No.7 and captain since 2019, taking Queensland to three series wins, including their incredible 2020 effort. The 36-year-old has, however, come under fire since the Maroons' loss in Origin I - their second straight defeat at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland has previously dropped Trevor Gillmeister when he was captain in the 1990s. NSW last year made the call to drop James Tedesco for Origin I, before recalling him through injury and then leaving him out again for game two. But neither state has decided to drop a captain from their side midway through a series this century. Cherry-Evans' omission is even more significant considering only Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith have captained more Origins for their state. Dearden has won two of four games starting for the Maroons at five-eighth, partnering Cherry-Evans last year and in the 2022 series-deciding win. Queensland lock Pat Carrigan said he believed the North Queensland playmaker would be ready for the challenge. "I played with Tommy when he debuted (for Brisbane) and his competitive nature hasn't changed," Maroons lock Carrigan said. "He is playing great footy for the Cowboys, and you put him in a Queensland jersey and he just grows to another level as well. "Whether it be Chez or it be Tommy, I know they can get the job done and we are going to need them to." Carrigan also spoke highly of Cherry-Evans. "Chez has done a lot for me not only as a footballer with advice but as a friend too. I love playing with him," he said. "He is a great man with great values and I know all the boys really appreciate him a lot too. "The big fella's footy speaks for itself. I know what the boys think of him and how Queensland rugby league thinks of him as well." EXPECTED QUEENSLAND SQUAD FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II Kalyn Ponga, Xavier Coates, Robert Toia, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Moeaki Fotuaika, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Pat Carrigan, Kurt Mann, Lindsay Collins, Kurt Capewell, Trent Loiero, Ezra Mam, Jack Howarth, Corey Horsburgh
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Fairytale moment that brought one of the NRL's grumpiest coaches to tears
Josh Papalii scored a fairytale double as he became the most-capped player in Canberra history and lifted the Raiders to a gritty come-from-behind win over South Sydney. Chants of 'Papa' rang through GIO Stadium after the Raiders legend's two late tries, before Papalii converted his second himself to put the icing on a 36-12 victory and send the Raiders to the top of the NRL ladder on Sunday. Television cameras quickly flicked to the touchline after Papalii converted the second and zoomed in on Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. The Raiders legend cut an emotional figure, holding his hands on his head, while appearing to shed a tear for the Canberra superstar. On Sunday, Papalii made his 319th appearance for the footy club and Stuart lumped praise on him after the match, claiming it was not outlandish to say that the footy star was now one of the top five greatest-ever players to have ever donned a Raiders jersey. 'This is not a rash statement, the greats of our club, the real greats, you've got Mal Meninga, Glenn Lazarus, Laurie Daley and Brad Clyde. You put Josh Papalii in there now and that is without any emotion, that's just fact, that's how good a player he is,' Stuart said. 'If you had to pick the five greatest players to play for this club… there they are. 'I said at the start of the week just let me know if there's an excuse and we get beaten this week, let me know if you're going to use the excuse that Ricky has motivated us too much this week so didn't play well.' He added: 'When I spoke to Papa before the game about something, I've never seen a man so on. I knew we were going to be hard to beat. 'I'm so happy for him because the boys did it for him. I know what Joe (Tapine) did this week to get those boys ready to play for Josh. 'Papa has gone to another level this season in regards to his leadership. Leadership gets branded around so often, our leaders are leading at the moment. 'The (leadership group) are my main resource and he's got a massive influence on the younger players.' Despite the veteran's late show, it was young five-eighth Ethan Strange who was responsible for turning the day around for the home side, after two early Rabbitohs tries for Keaon Koloamatangi and Alex Johnston threatened to rain on Big Papa's parade. Strange was unstoppable in wet and near-freezing conditions that made handling a tricky task. Stuart couldn't believe the moment, holding his hands on his head while breaking down in tears, as he lauded the star as one of the footy club's five-greatest players of all time. Just before halftime, the 20-year-old showed why he is one of the best running halves in the league by pushing past four Souths defenders to muscle his way to the try line and lift the Raiders back into the game. Until then, Canberra had looked bereft of ideas in attack, but momentum suddenly swung their way. Strange replicated his effort after the break, jinking past more flat-footed defenders to put the Raiders back level. Soon after, Johnston failed to defuse a Jamal Fogarty bomb and back-rower Zac Hosking cleaned up the scraps to send Canberra ahead. The Raiders grew in confidence and doubled their lead through Simi Sasagi before Papalii, who was given a rare start by coach Stuart in his landmark appearance, came on for his second stint. In the 70th minute, the strong crowd of 19,438 that braved the miserable conditions were sent into raptures when hooker Owen Pattie sent Papalii over with a short-range pass. Three minutes later the veteran went over after another Pattie pass and stepped up to land the conversion. The Raiders went top with the result, though Canterbury could usurp them when they face Parramatta on Monday. Other than a brief moment in round 2 of 2024, it's the first time Canberra have topped the ladder since round 6 in 2005.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Benji Marshall fumes at match officials and claims he 'feels sorry for his players' as Nathan Cleary's Panthers have the last laugh against Jarome Luai's Wests Tigers
A seething Benji Marshall admitted he 'felt sorry' for his players, as he fumed at referees for two controversial calls against star man Jarome Luai, following his side's 18-14 defeat by Penrith. Nathan Cleary 's side had the last laugh over their former five-eighth, Luai, as they leapfrogged the Tigers to go one point clear of them in the NRL ladder. Luai had a mixed reunion with the Panthers, playing a hand in all of the Tigers' three tries but gifting Penrith penalties ahead of two game-defining scores in Sunday's second half at CommBank Stadium. After the teams were locked at 10-10 at halftime, Cleary kicked for goal to put Penrith ahead after Luai tackled Penrith's new five-eighth Blaize Talagi. The four-time reigning premiers later scored off an escort penalty, conceded by Luai. Sat next to the Tigers' five-eighth, Marshall unloaded on referees, appearing to claim they were too involved in the contest. 'I thought it was one of our best performances of the year,' the Tigers boss said, reflecting on the loss. 'We're playing against quality opposition that play at a really good level. 'They test you with their attack. Probably got the best kicking game in the competition. And we went toe to toe with them. And I honestly thought we were the better side tonight. 'The game is so hard and demanding. And I actually feel sorry for our players because they didn't actually get to decide tonight. 'I thought two calls, the first one on Jarome, on last, making a tackle. I thought it was outrageous. That decision took them to 12-10. 'And the second one, he got done for an escort, which I thought was bad too. And then they scored off the back of that set. Just let them decide. Let them play. 'The game is actually hard enough. So I'm proud of our boys and proud of the effort. And we'll keep fighting and turning up like that the way we did tonight and keep improving.' On reflection on the escort penalty, Marshall said he would be taking his concerns up with the NRL. 'Absolutely,' he said, when asked whether he'd get in touch with the league. He again affirmed that the escort penalty was the 'wrong call'. 'I agree with protecting the kickers, but he didn't take his legs out. They didn't put him in a dangerous position. It was simultaneous when he kicked it and he made contact there. Like, that's not a penalty. 'I'm all for protecting kickers. Don't get me wrong. OK, I just I thought it was the wrong call. And I thought it actually cost us because we're in a cycle there where they got field position, kicked the goal, got the ball back, went down, got a penalty and then scored, so anyway, I've had my rant.' Luai, meanwhile, was a little more reserved in his comments. 'I think the ref gave me the explanation of it was a bit careless. So, I understand the rules and in that moment, you know, I understood what I was doing. He's just in the rules.' But interestingly, that was when Marshall quickly interjected, saying: 'He's saying he doesn't want to make any comments.' Despite the contentious penalty, the Tigers' co-captain almost helped his team to victory in the final 10 minutes when Jack Bird regathered his bomb close to the line and offloaded to Jahream Bula. But a miraculous cover tackle from Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary stopped the fullback inches short of the line and the Panthers held on. Marking the Tigers' other ex-Panther in Sunia Turuva, left winger Tom Jenkins scored his first hat-trick in a win that keeps Penrith's mid-season resurgence humming. An away clash against the Warriors is set to prove a litmus test in a fortnight, with Penrith only able to lose four more games this season to finish with a 50 per cent winning record. Three-time reigning wooden spooners the Tigers head into their bye on a four-game losing streak that threatens to undo their improved start to the season. Jenkins completed his hat-trick, crossing just after Luai was cited for collecting Liam Martin on a kick chase. But Luai had been involved in everything the Tigers did well in a better first half for Benji Marshall's side. He first put boot to ball from his non-preferred right foot ahead of Starford To'a's try before again swinging to the right side as the Tigers shifted for Turuva to score. The 28-year-old was at the centre of another memorable moment early in the second half, flooring opposite man and long-term teammate Cleary in a bone-crunching one-on-one tackle. In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Jeral Skelton gave the Tigers a sniff with 10 minutes to play as Luai and Adam Doueihi found him on the left wing. But for a second consecutive week, the Panthers rediscovered their gritty best to hit their second bye in form.
