Australian racing icon Bart Cummings passed away this morning. He will be remembered as Australia’s greatest ever racehorse trainer, and as a legend of the Australian racing community.
The 12-time Melbourne Cup winner passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones on Sunday morning according to a tweet from son Anthony J Cummings.
“James Bartholomew Cummings OAM, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 30th of August 2015, in his homestead at Princes Farm, Castlereagh,” said grandson James Cummings in a statement.
“His final moments were spent with his family and wife of 61 years, Valmae, with whom he celebrated their anniversary on Friday.
“For Bart, aged 87, this was a fitting end. A husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather; a master trainer and a larger than life figure.
“We will miss you.”
Cummings was born in 1927 and had his first taste of the big time when he was a strapper for 1950 Melbourne Cup winner Comic Court, trained by his father.
Three years later at the age of 26 he received his trainer license and began training horses of his own.
He won his first Group One race with Storm Passage in the SAJC derby in 1958, and his first Melbourne Cup with Light Fingers in 1965.
He would go on to win the Melbourne Cup a total of twelve times, with last win coming in 2008, more than forty years after his first.
In the past 62 years he has amassed wins in over 7,000 races, including 268 Group One winners.
His Melbourne Cup victories led to him being known as the ‘Cups King’, but he also won the Caulfield Cup on seven occasions, The Cox Plate five times, the Golden Slipper four times, and the Australia Cup 13 times.
In 1982 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for his services to racing, was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991 and was an inaugural member of the Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.
A chronic asthma sufferer, a sixteen-year-old Cummings was once told by a doctor to ‘stay away from the horses and chaff’ in order to aid his health.
That, quite simply, was never going to happen.
Tom
Guest
What makes you believe Sheedy is even the best Aussie Rules coach post WW2? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
Maybe the greatest sports coach/trainer in OZ in the last 70-years(since WW2 1945-2015). He's up there with Wayne Bennett, Jack Gibson,Kevin Sheedy, and a few others. He has a perless record, it was like Bart would go on forever. A sad loss, from the old school. A nice tribute sheek.
titch
Guest
One of the greatest trainers in the history of world horse racing.
sheek
Roar Guru
It's been one helluva journey for Bart. And for his legion of fans. Way back in 1965, when I was just nine years old, my dad told me the Melbourne Cup was on & if I was interested in picking a horse to win. After a 1000 questions, I settled on Light Fingers because my dad explained the name meant a thief who picked your pocket without you knowing. My boyhood hero was Robin Hood, who stole from the rich & gave to the poor. So Light Fingers was my horse, & she won. Bart's first of 12 Melbourne Cup winners & I had unknowingly jumped on the Bart bandwagon. From that moment my interest expanded into other sports. Rest in eternal peace, Bart.
Tomas Kelly
Roar Rookie
Vale Bart Cummings. A larger than life icon of Australian sport
Luke Rogers
Roar Rookie
What a life. What a story. What a career. 12 time Melbourne Cup winner and Australian racing icon. Will not be forgotton.