By Michael Beattie
Grafton racing is in mourning this week following the passing of one of the city’s best loved racing personalities in Rex Kelly.
Rex has been many things to Grafton racing for in excess of 50 years.
During the 1970s Rex was riding at the height of his powers, he had a reputation of being a very fierce competitor who would get the job done, whatever that job may have been.
In his riding career Rex rode around 1500 winners in a period where country racing was essentially a weekend-only sport, other than the big cup meetings.
In those years those meetings saw the best riders in the city almost filling the jockeys room making it a very difficult task for the locals to get a decent ride.
Rex is fondly remembered for being part of one of the biggest upsets in Australian Racing in 1977.
In 1977, Rex was instrumental in causing one of the greatest upsets in Australian racing history.
Riding unheralded filly Mistress Anne for Coffs Harbour trainer Dudley Wilson, Rex led throughout to defeat the glamour colt Luskin Star on a bog track in the Northern Slipper Stakes 900m in Newcastle.
The Coffs Harbour pair combined again in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill but on this occasion were no match for the chestnut champion from Newcastle, who many believe was the greatest two-year-old of all time.
Unfortunately for Rex, Mistress Anne went onto greater glory as a three-year-old but in a different stable which robbed Rex of the opportunity of maintaining the association.
Rex retired from the saddle in the early 1980s but was not lost to the industry and was the long term track work supervisor at the CRJC he was also the official starter for the NRRA for many years.
In 2012 Rex decided to resign from both positions to take up the position of stable foreman for his son David, who was training at the Gold Coast.
While Rex enjoyed the role and the stable had considerable success, the call of Grafton was too much and after a few years Rex headed back to his beloved Grafton and to the family home a stone’s throw from the main entrance to Grafton Racecourse.
Almost before his bags were unpacked, such was the respect he gained as a horseman, Rex was reappointed as the official starter for the NRRA. He held this position until Covid caused his retirement early in 2020.
In 2023 Rex was awarded with Life Membership of the CRJC in recognition for his significant contribution to Grafton racing over many years
While Rex and I had our moments, especially in the stewards room in the early years, I remember him a brilliant bush rider who knew how to get a dollar in the very tough years, he never gave an inch start and never expected it.
I have been lucky to have worked with some fine starters over the years but none were better than Rex.
I would like a dollar for every horse and or jockey Rex saved from serious injury simply because of his ability to know what a wayward horse was about to do before it actually happened.
RIP Rex you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten especially by those who were fortunate enough to see you ply your many skills in person.
