VALE DEANE LESTER 1968 - 2023
Health issues throughout his life would mean that Lester would never have the chance to forge a career as a trainer and fulfil his dream of training a Group 1 winner, but he played an important hand in countless major race victories, including the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Lester’s mentorship of many jockeys across the country was well known and extended to Jye McNeil, a talented young rider making his way in the sport. A want to improve and get the best out of himself led McNeil to call on Lester as an advisor. Together they mapped a successful passage to victory on many occasions, but none more important than that of Twilight Payment in the Lexus Melbourne Cup. Lester was one of the first people McNeil thanked in the afterglow of his Cup triumph, and when he died McNeil wore riding socks embroidered with Lester’s initials. As an owner Lester’s greatest personal triumph also came at Flemington when The Quarterback, a horse that he part-owned with trainer and great friend Robbie Griffiths, won the 2016 Newmarket Handicap. The pair shared a special friendship, one of many that Lester enjoyed across the industry. His good humour, big heart and passion for sport and music made Lester an easy person to warm to. Despite his physical challenges, Lester’s life was truly one well lived and lived very much to the full. His voice was ever present in racing homes across the country and his counsel sought with respect and gratitude by many. A legendary figure of the Australian racing scene and a great man sorely missed by those closest to him.
Racing legends are, more often than not, famous for their deeds on the racetrack. Jockeys like Scobie Breasley, Roy Higgins and Harry White, trainers like Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes or Gai Waterhouse, and of course the great horses, Phar Lap, Black Caviar, Makybe Diva and Winx. Deane Lester wasn’t a player in the literal sense on racing’s field of dreams, but his influence and expertise ensured he would become just as revered as any great trainer or jockey. Lester is a true legend of Australian racing and his death after a short battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in February was felt deeply throughout the sport. Lester’s love of racing flourished as a youngster with his childhood spent on thoroughbred studs operated by his parents on the Mornington Peninsula and Dandenong Ranges. His mother Sandra eventually took out her trainer’s license and Lester would be on hand to assist with stabling duties despite suffering from spina bifida at birth. He loved horses and he loved racing – nothing would keep him from being involved with the sport he loved. A fixture of the Cranbourne racing scene having clocked horses at the track since he turned 21, Lester eventually found his way into racing media via radio 3UZ (now RSN) and become a towering figure as an analyst and commentator. His thoughts on the sport were prized by punters and participants alike; articulate, professional and more often than not, accurate.
27
INSIDE HEADQUARTERS ISSUE 2 2023
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker