Latest news with #RobbieLaing
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Racing world rocked by sudden death of ‘legendary' trainer
The racing community is mourning the sudden death of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing, just hours after he celebrated a second-place finish at Flemington. Tributes poured in on Sunday after it emerged Laing had died in his sleep overnight. The veteran, aged in his 60s, had fought back from bankruptcy and a ban to return to top competition in recent years. Laing's El Soleado, ridden by apprentice Sheridan Clarke and carrying 64.5kg, finished second in the last race at Flemington on Saturday. The horse was a winner at Bendigo in April last year — a spirit-boosting win for Laing, who watched from hospital with a leg injury — and has recently bounced back from throat surgery. Laing famously trained Roman Arch, ridden by Craig Newitt, to an upset win in the 2006 Australian Cup at Flemington. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Seven years later Hugh Bowman rode Laing's $4000 yearlings purchase Polanski to victory in the 2013 Victoria Derby. 'My life in racing's been fantastic, really,' Laing said in a Channel 7 feature in early 2024. 'It's had its highs and lows, but if you're not prepared to suffer the lows, you're in the wrong caper. 'I don't like failure. Generally whatever I set myself to do, I've done it. 'As a kid I wanted to win the league's best and fairest and I did that. I wanted to be captain of the footy team and I did that. 'I became apprentice in 1974 at the age of 15. I think I rode OK but I got heavy very quick. At the age of 23 I trained my first Group 1 winner Perfect Bliss. 'The Group 1s for me are extra special.' Away from the racetrack, his daughter Grace finished third on The Voice Kids in 2014 while his children were enrolled at Haileybury College in Melbourne. But it all went downhill in 2017 with some of his stable stalwarts leaving his yard, including the loss of fan favourite So Si Bon after he was banned from racing for grabbing The Taj Mahal by the leg in a race. 'The owners decided to give him to someone else, meaning he left the stable. Miss Rock was close to retirement, and she'd won $1.3 million,' Laing recalled. 'Lord Of The Sky won The Standish in early 2018, but he was coming up to an eight-year-old, so the team looked like it was going to be fairly light on. 'The girls were still going to Haileybury. We had a farm to pay off, and there was just so much. 'The stables on course were costing $4000 a week, the rental on our property was $1500 a week and then feed and staff and next thing, we ran out of money. So, the wife and the three kids, they took off. 'I had all the motor vehicles repossessed, lost the farm, smashed my hip in, had to have a brand new hip operation and was declared bankrupt. November 30th, 2019, I had to hand my licence in due to bankruptcy.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Laing's appeal to regain his licence, scheduled for early 2020, was delayed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he was forced to stay on the sidelines during that time. 'Luckily, my parents are still fit and healthy. I've got a little bedroom at their place. Rick Smith from PFD Foods gifted me a Holden ute, and that's all I've got at the moment,' he said 'I think it was going to be horses or the dole.' On Sunday, former jockey turned trainer Gavin Bedggood remembered Laing as 'far from conventional but 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 wrote. Samuel Hyland said: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Robbie Laing, always loved riding for Laing. His horses were always tough and fit, he was a great character, an outstanding horseman as well as trainer, thoughts are with Eddie and Sylvia Laing and the Laing Family.' Bryan Martin said: 'The saddest news with the passing overnight of Robbie Laing. Outstanding horseman and always good fun to be around. Amazing mind on pedigrees. Rob could train, young ones, top liners and the jumpers. Very sadly missed Robbie Laing. Prayers with his extended family.' Journalist Bruce Clark wrote: 'Thoughts to the extensive family and many friends of legendary horseman Robbie Laing on hearing his sudden passing.'
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
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.
7NEWS
15 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Racing world mourns sudden death of ‘legendary' trainer Robbie Laing
The racing community is mourning the sudden death of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing, just hours after he celebrated a second-place finish at Flemington. Tributes poured in on Sunday after it emerged Laing had died in his sleep overnight. The veteran, aged in his 60s, had fought back from bankruptcy and a ban to return to top competition in recent years. 'Thoughts to the extensive family and many friends of legendary horseman Robbie Laing on hearing his sudden passing,' journalist Bruce Clarke wrote. Laing's El Soleado, ridden by Sheridan Clarke and carrying 64.5kg, finished second in the last race at Flemington on Saturday. The horse was a winner at Bendigo in April last year — a spirit-boosting win for Laing, who watched from hospital with a leg injury — and has recently bounced back from throat surgery. Laing famously trained Roman Arch, ridden by Craig Newitt, to an upset win in the 2006 Australian Cup at Flemington. Seven years later Hugh Bowman rode Laing's $4000 yearlings purchase Polanski to victory in the 2013 Victoria Derby. 'My life in racing's been fantastic,' Laing said in a Channel 7 feature in early 2024. 'It's had its highs and lows. I don't like failure. Generally whatever I set myself to do, I've done it. 'As a kid I wanted to win the league's best and fairest and I did that. I wanted to be captain of the footy team and I did that. 'I became apprentice in 1974 at the age of 15. I think I rode OK but I got heavy very quick. At the age of 23 I trained my first Group 1 winner Perfect Bliss. 'The Group 1s for me are extra special.' Former jockey turned trainer Gavin Bedggood described Laing as 'far from conventional but 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 wrote. Samuel Hyland said: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Robbie Laing, always loved riding for Laing. His horses were always tough and fit, he was a great character, an outstanding horseman as well as trainer, thoughts are with Eddie and Sylvia Laing and the Laing Family.' Bryan Martin said: 'The saddest news with the passing overnight of Robbie Laing. Outstanding horseman and always good fun to be around. Amazing mind on pedigrees. Rob could train, young ones, top liners and the jumpers. Very sadly missed Robbie Laing. Prayers with his extended family.'
News.com.au
15 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Robbie Laing passes suddenly
The Australian racing industry has been saddened by the sudden death of Group 1 trainer Robbie Laing. Laing, a five-time Group 1-winner including Victoria Derby and Australian Cup triumphs, died in his sleep overnight Sunday. Laing was at Flemington last Saturday and saddled up El Soleado which finished second. The Cranbourne-based trainer prepared more than 1000 winners during his career including the 2013 Victoria Derby winner Polanski. Laing, a natural horseman, also saddled a swag of feature jumps winners including champion gallopers Mazzacano and Sir Pentire. Laing returned to Victorian training ranks two years ago after a forced hiatus due to financial hardships and enjoyed solid success with a small team. Fellow Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood, who rode Mazzacano and Vindicating to feature jumps victories for Laing, paid tribute to his former mentor. 'RIP Robbie Laing,' Bedggood posted on X. 'Far from conventional but a man who was very good to me. Gave me my 1st horse as a trainer (and) many winners as a rider & plenty of advice over the years. 'Was never given the credit he deserved as a trainer (and) always had a good 2yr old, handicapper & jumper. Rest easy.'
