Melbourne Cup Winning Trainer Cox Laid To Rest

Legendary Australian horse trainer Ollie Cox was given a fitting farewell by nearly 400 mourners on Thursday at his ‘professional home’ of Wodonga Race Track. Cox had died last week at age 83 and a large contingent of Australia’s horse racing power elite turned out to pay their last respects.

The funeral was not only held at the Wodonga facility but on the horse track itself. The ceremony took place on the lawn in front of the grandstand with Monica Conway leading the proceedings. She read a family tribute of his life and his professional career which began at age 14 when he took a job as a livestock contractor. A prayer and blessing was delivered by Father Dennis Crameri with other well known trainers in attendance including Peter Maher, Steve Aldridge, David O’Prey, John Ledger, Liz Aalbers and David Heywood. Prominent jockeys including Steve Sharman and Patrick Payne were among a number of racing luminaries on hand to pay tribute to Cox.

A personal tribute came from Paula Morgan, a lifelong friend of Cox. She said that “he was so kind with his knowledge and never left me behind in anything he explained. His little tricks to get horses to eat or drink and those extra walks on sunny days to stretch their legs. He always had something to fix something and just knew what to do.”

Former Wodonga Turf Club president Terry Doolan talked about Cox playing a significant role in the establishment of a training complex at the race track when funds were tight and the future uncertain. He described Cox as always interested in track improvements with a keen eye for detail. Doolan thanked Cox for his lifelong commitment to Wodonga. Another past president of Wodonga, Terry Maher, also paid tribute to Cox.

The most moving part of the ceremony came at the end when coffin was carried on the track along the home stretch and past the aforementioned trainers’ complex. Melbourne Cup winner Subzero led the hearse and carried a blanket that had been presented to another Cox trained horse, St Chrisoph, for his win in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield in 1999.