Jack Holt (trainer)
Michael "Jack" Holt was an Australian horse trainer and philanthropist. Popularly known as the "Wizard of Mordialloc", Holt headed the Victorian trainers' premiership at least twelve times.
Biography
Holt was born in Berwick, Victoria, a younger son of Michael Holt and his wife Mary Holt, née Corkery. He may have been christened "Michael" but called himself "Jackson", invariably shortened to "Jack". He lived with his two spinster sisters in the suburb of Mordialloc.He first trained horses at Berwick, Victoria, and won his first race, the 1911 Standish Handicap, with his own mare, Carette.
Some of his more notable wins were:
- VRC Ascot Vale Stakes: Heroic
- AJC Breeders Plate: Heroic
- AJC Derby, later Australian Derby: Heroic ; Hall Mark ; Nuffield ; Reading
- Australian Steeple: Kinlark for J. M. Niall
- Bagot Handicap: Picatus
- Bill Stutt Stakes: Chanak
- Caulfield Cup 3 times: Eurythmic for E. Lee Steere; Maple ; High Syce for Mrs. L. R. Buxton
- Caulfield Guineas: Trice ; Heroic ; Young Idea ; Nuffield
- Caulfield Stakes 7 times: Eurythmic ; Heroic ; Royal Charter ; High Syce ; Hall Mark
- AJC Champagne Stakes: Heroic ; Hall Mark ; Young Idea
- Chatsworth Plate: Noorilim
- Chelmsford Stakes: Heroic
- W. S. Cox Plate 6 times: Easingwold ; Heroic ; Hall Mark ; Young Idea ; Chanak
- Futurity Stakes: Eurythmic
- Herbert Power Stakes: Tangalooma ; Eurythmic ; Easingwold ; Second Wind
- King's Cup : Second Wind for E. Lee Steere
- VRC Maribyrnong Plate: Heroic ; Nuffield
- Melbourne Cup: Hall Mark
- Memsie Stakes 11 times: Eurythmic ; Englefield ; Heroic ; Royal Charter ; Highland ; High Brae ; Hall Mark ; Noble Prince
- Moonee Valley Cup: Telecles ; Royal Charter
- Newmarket Handicap: Blue Cross ; Heroic ; Mildura
- ATC Sires' Produce Stakes Thrice ; Nuffield Chanak
- St Kilda Handicap: Second Wind
- Standish Handicap 8 times: Carette ; Blue Cross ; Trice for Lady Stradbroke; Manrico
- Sydney Cup: Eurythmic ; Lilypond
- Tullamarine Handicap: Second Wind
- V.R.C. Handicap: Second Wind
- Victoria Derby: Hall Mark ; Nuffield
- Underwood Stakes 7 times: Heroic ; Royal Charter ; Highland ; Hall Mark
- William Reid Stakes: Heroic ; Chanak
- Williamstown Cup: Tangalooma ; Second Wind
Holt was a devoted Catholic. When he died he was accorded a Requiem Mass at his local church, St. Brigid's, Mordialloc, to which he had been a faithful and generous adherent. His remains were interred in the Berwick Cemetery.
Recognition
Holt was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.Benefactions
Holt's estate was valued at something over £100,000, and most it was willed to charitable institutions:- Establishment at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, of a Medical Science Research Institute.
- St. Brigid's School received £1000 to continue funding the prizes at their annual picnic, a tradition begun by Holt many years before.
- A considerable sum was left in the care of his sister Madge Holt to be left on her death to be distributed to each of: Royal Melbourne Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, Alfred Hospital. Prince Henry Hospital, Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Foundling Hospital, Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Anthony's Home, Caritas Christl Hospice for the Dying, Nazareth House, and Mercy Public Maternity Hospital. Holt had also made generous donations to these charities during his lifetime, as well as lending his name and influence to the running of fund-raising carnivals and annual billiard displays by Walter Lindrum.
In popular culture
"Jack Holt" has been used in Australian rhyming slang as a synonym for "salt".Family
Michael Holt was married to Mary Holt, who was born in County Cork.- Margaret Mary "Madge" "Maggie" Holt significant bequest to charities.
- William "Willie" Holt
- Jackson "Jack" Holt never married and lived at "Lethe", 8 Francis Street, Mordialloc, Victoria with his two sisters.
- Catherine "Kitty" Holt