PETER Sinclair and his family, long regarded local racing royalty, have farewelled Moree.

Sinclair, a fourth generation racehorse trainer, now trains privately near Murwillumbah for Sutton Park Racing supremo, Mark Sowerby.

It’s a move the trainer anticipated for quite some time, but a day at the Moree races without a Sinclair runner – or winner – won’t be the same for racegoers and owners.

“Moree has been fantastic to me and my family, and I’m very grateful for everything our hometown has done for us,” Sinclair said.

“I raised a family in Moree, built a home, and spent 40 years working for Telstra. Moree has been very good to me, but when Mark offered me the opportunity to train for him privately, I realised this was something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Sinclair has lost count of the winners he’s trained at the Moree track. He’s won three Moree Cups – Storm Boy, Upstart and Beacon – and 17 Boolooroo Cups at Moree picnics.

“There were a lot of good horses over the years for a lot of good people . . . people who became very good friends, and are still very good friends,” he said.

Peter Sinclair has left Moree to train privately near Murwillumbah (Image Copyright).

“In all the years I trained at Moree, I was also very lucky to have good staff. People like Tony McCosker and, more recently, Amee Hobday, who has looked after everything and kept the wheels turning after we made the move. My dad, Phil, is always about to give a hand and his advice is invaluable.”

The time has now come for Sinclair to do what he’s wanted to do his entire life – train racehorses full-time.

“I’m really happy with our decision to move,” Sinclair said.

“I’ve been entrusted with a magnificent farm, with all the facilities a trainer could wish for, and a team of beautifully-bred horses.

“The layout here is amazing. One of the big things I’ve noticed since moving, is travelling distances to the races. All the tracks are just around the corner. Grafton, Lismore and Ballina aren’t far away, and Murwillumbah is five minutes down the road. Even the Gold Coast and Brisbane are only two-and-a-half hours away,” he said.

Sinclair said the move to Sutton Park was a natural progression.

“My father, Phil, trained for Mark’s father, Neil, many years ago, so moving to Sutton Park was a natural step,” Sinclair smiled.

“Mark has got a good eye for a horse and has some lovely young horses coming through.”

Sinclair, with six full-time staff as well as wife Jenny and sons Jack and Nathan by his side, has 16 horses currently in work, including 12 two-year-olds.

“We educate young horses as well as train full-time, and the team is progressing very nicely at the moment,” Sinclair said.

Son Nathan, a fifth generation Sinclair to train racehorses, has set up shop at the coast as well.

“Nathan has moved his base across, and he’s now licensed to train out of Murwillumbah,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair won’t have runners in the Fathers’ Day Moree Cup, a race he’s won three times, including two quinellas.

Storm Boy beat stablemate Diamond Walk in the 1996 Moree Cup and 23 years later Upstart beat stablemate Free Billy.

(From left) Peter Sinclair, his father Phillip, and son Nathan at Moree racecourse (Image Copyright).

In 2020, Beacon gave Sinclair a third win in the Moree Race Club’s signature event.

Sinclair’s great-grandfather, also named Peter, trained racehorses at Tulloona Bore north of Moree more than a century ago, and Sinclair’s grandfather, George Sinclair, assumed the mantel in the 1950s.

Peter’s father, Phillip, trained for many years before passing the bridle to his son.

“There’s a lot of history there, and it’s sad to leave Moree, but this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Sinclair said.

Words and Images: Bill Poulos