June 1, 2018
On Tuesday, on the eve of his passing, John Lee was informed of the excellent outcomes that were achieved last Saturday at the park named in his honour, where the locals did him proud.
Glenn Richardson grabbed the Nanango training honours for the 2017-18 season, and his apprentice Hannah English has beaten all-comers in the Jockeys’ Premiership.
And the icing on the cake is that Canid has joined his stablemate Klammer on the list of qualified candidates for the $100,000 Battle Of The Bush Final at Doomben on June 23.
Canid’s ownership is totally a Nanango concern with Richardson, his strapper Marc Alexander and Gary McAuliffe sharing the thrills.
English was in the mix, too, until she had to forsake her interest when she joined the riding ranks.
All four are former Nanango State High School students.
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Lee Park based trainer “Bunny” Laherty, whose relatives include former Nanango trainers Myles Greaves and his son Anthony, contributed to the winners’ stories when Machu Picchu (Billie-Rose Andrew, $9.50) saluted in the Nanango RSL-Gary and Margaret Banks Memorial 0-60 Handicap.
Furthermore, Lee would have been delighted that an old hobby horse of his lifted its head.
He was always keen to point out that Nanango’s average field size is numerically strong and that was precisely the situation for the May fixture.
Incidentally, the sterling stalwart’s final meeting in the chair ran to seven events.
There were eight reserves among the 91 acceptors that hailed from a score of different training venues.
The degree of Saturday’s competitiveness was evident in the tight finish to the feature race.
It was nearly a triple dead-heat in the $10,000 Heritage Battle Of The Bush Qualifier (1200m).
The margin in favour of Canid (Brooke Stower, $8) was a short half head over his stablemate Revelio (Alannah Badger, $12) with a nose to Go Get Sum (Nathan Evans, $11) in third spot.
Another aspect that Lee would have appreciated was the Happy (55th) Wedding Anniversary Maiden Plate that celebrated Tom and Helen Greenslade’s marvellous occasion.
A special word of praise goes to the organisers that managed to keep it all a secret from the ex-Nanango trainer who was the handsome groom back in 1963.
Tom was an astute conditioner and prepared money-spinners such as Cedante, a former record holder for 1500 metres at Nanango, Top Contender, Vain Time and Erinvale.
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Rest In Peace
These three words seem out of place when referring to John Archibald Lee, because repose and respite were rarely on his agenda.
The only exception may have been his annual trip to Fraser Island, when John and his wife Pat terrorised the fish population.
John’s trademarks included his overarching integrity, his tenacity, limitless drive and energy as well as his determination to both maintain and improve standards.
Although he was a formidable analyst and contributor at meetings such as the annual gathering of the country clubs, he had the ability to work with government administrations of various persuasions.
For the first race day on April 20, 1968, Lee was the judge, a role he fulfilled for around forty years.
He was elected to the committee in 1969, served as Reg McCallum’s Vice President for six years and was President from 1976 to 2015.
Thankfully, he was present for the N.R.C’s Golden Anniversary program at Easter time, and his roving eye was still active.
One of the main projects he oversaw was the 1985 replacement of the old railway building with a new administration complex.
The structure was enhanced with the creation of a public refreshment area and a hospitality room.
New horse stalls, on-course stabling, kangaroo-proof fencing, the provision of extended shelters and a safer mounting yard are some of the many projects he and his band signed off on.
He was community minded in that he also assisted neighbouring race clubs.
His long tenures in the judge’s box at Kumbia and Burrandowan were acknowledged with the granting of life-membership of both clubs.
John also enjoyed his Queensland Turf Club membership and found time to witness around 40 Stradbroke Handicaps.
His local government service is well-documented and he was associated with the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade for sixty years.
John Lee was presented with the 1992 Caltex Award for the outstanding Country Racing Administrator in the state and a Queensland Racing Community Award in 2010.
He was also a life member of the South East Queensland Country Racing Association.
Lee, by nature a strong-willed warrior, was significantly effective as an advocate and a leader.
His host of supporters and handful of critics would agree that his actions were eternally motivated by what he felt was in the best interests of Nanango Race Club.
Sadly, fate decreed that John Lee couldn’t be at the races last weekend.
But he would have found it reassuring to see the roll up on what is not usually a popular date, particularly when the Racing Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe was on hand.
Lee’s committees and workers set up sound foundations.
Today’s incumbents are also showing initiative with new strategies such as the burgeoning link up with the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival.
J.A Lee will be at Lee Park in spirit on August 4 – Nanango Cup day – where the presentation of premierships and the Horse Of The Year award will go to Canid.
