Rick Hore-Lacy, a Geelong Grammar boy, has Melbourne University degree in Arts and 80% of a Law Degree – “and a degree in jumping fences and dodging white coats, “ he claims.
Hore-Lacy said his fence jumping days were while he was at university and the cost of an entry fee into the racecourse would eat into his small punting bank.
Hore-Lacy had a successful importing business before a $144,700 quadrella win in 1976 encouraged him to try his luck at the New Zealand yearling sales. He spent the booty on 11 yearlings and then took out his owner-trainer’s license.
His first winner was a gelding named Toss at Yarra Glen in 1978. “He was backed from 33-1 to 7-2 and won by 12 lengths,” he said.
Rick took out a public training licence in 1980 and immediately he made his mark as a trainer of jumpers. His wins included the Grand National Hurdle with Planinca, Grand National Steeplechase with Diwali, Grand Annual Steeplechase, at Warrnambool, with Kaimoto, and Oakbank’s famed Great Eastern Steeplechase with Lord Rocky Red. Rick was leading jumping trainer in Victoria for two successive seasons before he decided to concentrate training flat performers.
Hore-Lacy moved from his New Gisborne property to stables on-course at Bendigo. He was there for three years before moving into Melbourne stables at Epsom. His first big winner came in 1985 when Foxseal won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm.
Soon after a relationship with breeder Alec Dodson saw Hore-Lacy train the crack Bletchingly filly Canny Lass to three Group 1 wins, and then her brother Canny Lad, who won the 1990 Golden Slipper.
Hore-Lacy followed up with brilliant sprinters Spartacus, Clay Hero and the high-class Australian Guineas winning colts Kenny’s Best Pal and Dash For Cash, but the best horse he has trained, and his legacy will live on through it, is the champion racehorse and now super sire Redoute’s Choice, who won the 1999 Blue Diamond Stakes, the first of four Group 1 wins.
The closure of Epsom in 1996 saw Hore-lacy move to Caulfield, where he established an state-of-the-art complex with its own outstanding view of the Caulfield training tracks.
Rick’s 18 Group One winners include many of Australia’s best races – the Golden Slipper, Blue Diamond Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, Oakleigh Plate, Australian Guineas and Australasian Oaks.
Over the last five years, Rick has maintained a high win strike rate of 12% and a place strike rate of 35.7%
Rick currently has approximately 50 horses on the books.
12 October 2007, Herald Sun, Matt Stewart
Read the story.
13 October 2006, Herald Sun, Matt Stewart
Read the story.
- Redoute’s Choice – Blue Diamond Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, Manikato Stakes and CF Orr Stakes
- Spartacus – Oakleigh Plate, Manikato Stakes and Australia Stakes
- Canny Lad – Golden Slipper Stakes and VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes
- Canny Lass – Marlboro Cup, Elders Mile and William Reid Stakes
- Dash For Cash – Cadbury Australian Guineas and Futurity Stakes
- Kenny’s Best Pal – Cadbury Australian Guineas
- Rink Dink – Schweppes Oaks
- Foxseal – Brisbane Cup
- Clay Hero – Oakleigh Plate
- Redoute’s Choice – stands at Arrowfield Stud, Hunter Valley NSW for $330,000. 2004 Australian Champion First Season Sire; 2005 Champion 2YO Sire of Australia with record earnings; 2006 Australian Champion Sire; produced 39 stakes winners of races including Golden Slipper, Blue Diamond, Caulfield Guineas, Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks, NZ Derby etc
- Canny Lad – stands at Woodlands Stud, Hunter Valley NSW for $22,000 and is the sire of 43 stakes winners including Accomplice, Dodge and Republic Lass etc
- Dash for Cash - stands at Swettenham Stud, Nagambie, VIC for $14,850 and is the sire of stakewinners Extension of Time and Dandy Dollar (trained by Rick-Hore Lacy), and stakes placegetters Cash Stash and Dash Incredible as well as the impressive Bank Robber and Dash for Cards. With a 20.7% winner to runner strike rate with only two crops of racing age.
- Spartacus – stood at Yallambee Stud and produced two stakes winners Miss Terrain and Mondano
- Kenny’s Best Pal – stood at Yallambee Stud and produced five stakes winners including German Chocolate, Mardi’s Magic, Prizefighter, Firenza and Astralita.
- Clay Hero – stood at stud to produce 11 stakes winners including Just Call Me Sir, Heroes Return, Ringside Lady, Ariba, Clay Fighter, Czar Hero, Dame Clay, Groundless Threats, Joe Hero, Regal Shot and Wry Hero.