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NSW racing has lost one of its truly iconic characters with the passing of legendary Muswellbrook-based trainer, Mr Pat Farrell.

Pat, 83, started his training career at 21 and along with his late brother Frank, conducted one of the most successful country-based training operations in the history of country NSW racing.

At its peak the stable boasted around 100 horses in work with almost every major owner, administrator and stud in the Hunter Valley listed as stable supporters.

The late Mr Pat Farrell. Image by Bradley Photographers

Pat had his final runner as a trainer in September 2024, and his last winner was Pee Dee at Taree in April 2024. Whilst not actively training, Pat continued in the game as an owner.

During his peak times, Farrell won eight-straight Newcastle premierships and saddled up Food For Love to finish second in the 1981 Golden Slipper.

He also trained many good horses like Victory Yacht and Proud Knight which won a San Domenico Stakes and a Challenge Stakes.

Current records indicate that Pat prepared 920 winners, but it would be many more due to earlier records being unclear.

His record on the track speaks for itself but Pat's ability to educate and prepare a racehorse finished a second to his ability to educate and prepare a man.

While the exploits of the late Theo Green as a trainer of jockeys and men are well documented, Pat Farrell had an enviable record of producing fine jockeys from his Muswellbrook stable.

We all know Wayne Harris, Darryl McLellan, Neil Rae, Paul Sylvester and Danny Duggan, all premiership winners to name just a few.

However, that was not where his skill set stopped as there were many others who essentially found their way to Pat Farrell once they had run out of chances.

In my time in charge of licensing in the Hunter Valley, I lost count of the number of kids I sent to Pat as their last chance saloon. It was a tough school, but not one of those kids left there worse for the life experience.

More importantly, many became valuable contributors to the racing industry whilst under his care and after they left.

Pat was a wonderful judge of a horse; I remember watching him position himself at the end of the sale ring entrance at the old White Park Scone Sale ring.

He would inspect every yearling as it walked directly towards him then scan them closely as they stood waiting to enter the sale ring.

Pat always had a keen eye for a bargain and would buy as many as he thought were value and on plenty of days that might mean a truck load. Records show Pat has owned almost 400 but the true number would be well in excess of 1000.

I'm honoured to call Pat Farrell a friend and the things he did for racing people quietly in the background to help when they were in need, would count well into the hundreds.

It is fair to say Pat had a few health issues over the years and every time we spoke I urged him to look after himself.

He always said he would, but we both knew that was fib. In the end it did not matter, it was never going to matter, Pat was going to do it his way.

RIP Pat Farrell, a legend as a trainer but a much bigger legend of a man, and you will be missed but never forgotten.

- By Michael Beattie (CEO Clarence River Jockey Club)