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Grafton racing is in mourning today following the passing of one of the city's best loved racing personalities in Rex Kelly.

Rex, 80, has been many things to Grafton racing for in excess of 50 years.

During the 1970s Rex was riding as the height of his powers, he had a reputation of being a very fierce competitor who get the job done, whatever that job may have been.

The late Mr Rex Kelly with his Clarence River Jockey Club Lifetime Membership badge

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.

During those years most 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.

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 at Rosehill but on this occasion they were no match for the chestnut champion from Newcastle, who many believe the greatest two-year-old of all time.

Unfortunately for Rex, Mistress Anne went onto greater glory as a 3yo 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 became a long term trackwork supervisor at Clarence River Jockey Club and was also official starter for the Northern Rivers Racing Association for many years.

In 2012 Rex resigned from both jobs to take up the position of stable foreman for his son David who was training at the Gold Coast.

Whilst 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 his respect as a horseman, Rex was quickly reappointed as the official starter for the NRRA a position he held until Covid caused his retirement early in 2020.

In 2023 Rex was awarded Life Membership of CRJC in recognition for his significant contribution to Grafton racing over many years

I remember Rex as 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 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.

Sincere condolences to wife Pam, kids David, Vicki and Scott, and to Rex’s greater family and friends.   - Michael Beattie (CEO of CRJC)