Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Horseracing is a sport that has played a huge part in the development of the psyche of Australia. We have now lost one of the giants of the industry in the passing of James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings. Horses have played an important part in our history and, from the poems of Banjo Paterson to the works of many great artists, the affection that Australians have for such a noble beast is well documented. Many people around the nation enter into horse syndicates to own a racehorse and have some involvement in the racing game, while others invest their hard-earned into working with horses. The Cummings family is one of those that have invested their lives into working with horses. Bart was born to Jim and Annie in the beautiful suburb of Glenelg, in my electorate, many years ago. He actually grew up not far from where I lived for most of my life. He attended the Marist Brothers Sacred Heart College in Somerton Park, also in my electorate.

At the age of 11, he had a near-death experience that had a profound effect on him. He jumped into the ocean at Glenelg and was being swept out to sea when another schoolboy jumped in and saved his life. Another story that has been doing the rounds after appearing in his biography a few years ago is that after suffering from asthma as a boy, he visited the doctor with his horse-training father where, after a series of tests, he was told that if he avoided horses he would be fine. We know that he did not take that advice! When leaving the doctor's surgery, Bart said to his father, 'We've done our day and there is nothing more.' He was not going to be kept away from horses, though, as we all know. Bart stayed involved with the horses and was affected throughout his life by his allergies.

He received his training licence in 1953, when his father's overseas trip was extended from six weeks to six months. Success was not immediate for Bart, but he persisted. His first Group 1 winner was in 1958, and we know that he went on to train 266 Group 1 winners. But it was the Melbourne Cup where Bart Cummings really developed his rapport with the nation. It was as a 23-year-old strapper to the 1950 Melbourne Cup winner, Comic Court, which was trained by his father, that Bart would begin his love affair with the Melbourne Cup. Bart Cummings would go on to win the race that stops the nation 12 times, while developing a relationship with the Australian public rarely seen in any sport.

Rocket Commander, trained by Wayne Francis and Glen Kent, won the Bart Cummings Tribute on Saturday 5 September at Morphettville Racecourse in my electorate. I congratulate the South Australian Jockey Club on their tribute to Bart Cummings, which also included acknowledging him in the naming of the Bart Cummings Gates at Morphettville. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the board of the SAJC and their chief executive Brenton Wilkinson on the good work they are doing for horseracing in South Australia. I have had the pleasure of attending many of their race days at Morphettville, as well as one of their family days. They are always great events. I wish them all the best for the spring racing carnival.

I return to Bart Cummings's work, which speaks for itself. In addition to the Group 1 winners, they include 32 Derbies, 24 Oaks, seven Caulfield Cups, five Cox Plates, 13 Australian Cups, 11 Mackinnon Stakes, eight Newmarket Handicaps, four Golden Slipper Stakes and of course 12 Melbourne Cups. Some of those Melbourne Cup winners are well known to those of us who started following the Melbourne Cup during our younger years. Let's Elope and Saintly are a couple of examples.

Bart's son Anthony delivered a great eulogy at the funeral. I would like to add a couple of things that he said which I think up the man that I admired, like most Australians, from afar. Anthony said, 'There hasn't been a bridle made to hold him back' and that Bart's favourite sayings were, 'There's no such thing as no' and 'Never give up'. There is a great deal to admire about Bart Cummings, but what I respect most is that, even with all the success he enjoyed, he was first a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather. I extend my sympathy to Valmae and to Bart's son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Melbourne Cup will never be the same without the Cups King.

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