One of Australia’s best known names in the training ranks – Brian Mayfield-Smith has announced that he will retire as a racehorse trainer at the end of November.
Brian’s achievements as a racehorse trainer spanned training premierships and many outstanding racehorses with whom he managed to win a host of Group One and black type races.
Brian started his racing career in Northern Queensland, but it was not until he relocated to Sydney that his career as a racehorse trainer swung into full gear.
Training from his Rosehill base, Brian achieved what no other trainer in Sydney had achieved for over three decades – he ended Tommy Smith’s 33 reign in the Sydney trainers premiership in the 1985-86 racing season and proceeded to win three successive trainers premiership.
His passion for wildlife conservation, saw him take a break from training and travel to Africa with his wife Maree, where he spent two years in Kenya.
Returning to Australia in 1997 he established his training base at Flemington and winners again started to roll, with 10 Group One victories, 74 stakes winners among the 600 odd winners that he trained.
In total Brian trained the winners of 30 Group One races, including Marauding, Handy Proverb, Marooned, Diamond Shower, Riverina Charm, Rubitano, Oliver Twist, Special Dane, Sudurka, Lyrical Bid, Reactive and Orange County.
Brian cited economic reasons for his retirement and intends to go back to Africa with his wife for a holiday after which he will decide his long term future.
ATA Victorian Branch President Colin Alderson said that Brian Mayfield-Smith enjoyed widespread respect among his peers for both his achievements as a racehorse trainer and as a horseman.
The ATA congratulates Brian Mayfield-Smith for his wonderful contribution to Australian racing and wishes him and Maree all the very best for the future.
