Popular trainer Max Crockett dies aged 74

Monday 26 November 2018, 12:55pm

Well known country trainer and master horse-breaker Max Crockett has died aged 74.

Crockett, who trained at Mudgee north-west of Sydney, was probably better known for educating young horses for leading metropolitan trainers including Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, Neville Begg, Jack Denham and Les Bridge.

"Max Crockett was a legend in racing and many will tell you he was the best horseman in the country," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said.

"Some of the great trainers of our time entrusted Max to break in their horses and he always did an exemplary job. Max will be greatly missed by the industry and our thoughts go out to his extended family and friends."

Crockett died on Sunday and his daughter Yasmin said he had been a great influence on her and her brother Cameron who has carried on the family tradition to become a leading trainer at Mudgee.

"Dad was a massive influence on Cameron and me. You don't realise how well-respected someone is until they are gone," she told Racing NSW.

"He was always great mates with Les Bridge and although he spent most of his later life in Mudgee, Dad's heart was always with all his 'old-school' mates at Randwick."

His last runner, Mackellar's Love at Orange on November 9, was a winner.

"I watched the race in the nursing home with Dad and that was a great thrill for him," Yasmin said.

Cameron Crockett said his father was a special person.

"I would like to thank everyone for condolences for Dad. He was a special man who touched the lives of many," he said.

"Following a service in Mudgee, we plan to spread his ashes at Randwick Racecourse and the old Inglis sales complex."

A celebration of Crockett's life will be held at Mudgee Racecourse on December 18.

– AAP

Latest News

Prime Thoroughbreds - We have a Host of Leaders in our Team

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Prime Thor­ough­bred’s cur­rent rac­ing team is putt­ing to­gether quite a re­cord. We have 22 hors­es that have raced in our team at pre­sent. Six­teen of th­ese are win­n­ers in­clud­ing the Stakes win­n­ing trio Ru­bisa­ki, Fituese and Xtreme­time with Miss Di­vine Em and Miss In Charge run­n­ing 4th in Stakes races. This sees a stakes win­n­er to win­n­er ra­tio of 18.75% with a stake’s per­formed to win­n­er ra­tio of 31.25%. Th­ese are ex­cep­tio­n­al fig­ures.   More »

Freedmans land maiden Group One win

Saturday, 27 February 2021

Un­der-rat­ed fil­ly For­bid­den Love has emerged as an au­tumn car­ni­val smokey with a bril­liant per­for­mance to win the Sur­round Stakes at Rand­wick.  More »

Capriccio completes Damian Lane treble

Saturday, 27 February 2021

In a big day for coun­try-trained hors­es, War­r­nam­bool fil­ly Capric­cio has tak­en out the In­glis Dash for Daniel Bow­man.  More »

More news headlines »