Image courtesy Steve Hart - Ray Guy and John Schreck.
Steve Hart snapped this one at Rosehill around 1990 as respected trainer Ray Guy spoke with AJC Chairman of Stewards John Schreck.
Ray never won a Sydney trainers premiership, but he finished in the top half dozen every season for many years. He finished third on one occasion behind Tommy Smith and Neville Begg.
Ray was never given a sale topping yearling to train. His yearling intake each year was made of modestly priced horses and his team was supplemented by breeders who liked him to train fillies they wished to retain.
Ray consistently won races for his many loyal owners and did a great job with some talented horses. Those who were around during his training career will remember the following names. Itchy Feet, All Archie, Devorant, Mona’s Joy, Purpose, Brandy Sipper, Copy Book, Lucifina, Silver Award, Sovereign Slipper, Robrick, Aldor, Saydor and Wirrapura. Ray also prepared the wonderful racehorse All Our Mob in the early part of his career.
For those too young to recognise the above names, may I assure you those horses collectively won a great number of races on Sydney tracks.
Ray’s son Bryan is currently in a Queensland training partnership with son Daniel. Bryan’s win tally is heading towards the 2000 milestone, with four Group 1’s under his belt.
The racing world was stunned in 1992 when Ray Guy died suddenly after a cardiac arrest. Bryan was catapulted straight into the job after many years of tutorship from his father.
All who knew Ray Guy shared the view that he was a master horseman, a man of boundless integrity and intense loyalty to clients, family and friends.