VALE ‘PATTO’
“Every single day when he was working, his job was to get the horses and riders to the barriers safely and then back after the race. It was like having our own bodyguard. Rightly, he gets the accolades for being an amazing horseman and he was a person who shared his knowledge and experience and not everyone does. I was one of the benefactors of him wanting to share his vast knowledge. He was a man of few words but when he spoke you listened as his words carried weight. That’s what we loved about him and that’s why Patto was Patto.” Patto’s dedication to the sport was recognised in 2021 with a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to horse racing. In 2023, the VRC paid tribute to the Patterson family’s contribution by renaming the horse walk leading to the winner’s circle ‘Patterson Avenue’. This permanent tribute acknowledges not only Patto’s legacy but also the continued dedication of Peter and Shane. More than just a clerk of the course, John Patterson was a true horseman, a mentor, and a cherished member of the racing community. His passion for horses, his dedication to the sport, and his warm personality will be deeply missed. The legacy of Patto will live on through his family, the countless individuals he mentored, and the many memories he helped create at Flemington. BELOW: Patto leads in his final Melbourne Cup winner, Fiorente in 2013. A third Melbourne Cup win for jockey Damien Oliver and a first for trainer Gai Waterhouse. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
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