The South Australian thoroughbred racing industry is mourning the loss of Reg Nolan.
Nolan was at the helm of Murray Bridge Racing Club as Chairman for 18 years before stepping down after the successful move to Gifford Hill in 2020.
“Reg’s legacy as Chairman of the Murray Bridge Racing Club will live on for generations to come,’’ current Chairman John Leahy said.
“His leadership during our ambitious move to Gifford Hill was instrumental to the Club achieving its goal and ensuring the certainty and success for the Club’s future.
“The quote from Winston Churchill, “success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm”, was never truer for Reg, particularly during the many challenging years it took and the hurdles the Club faced during a long period of what, at times seemed unlimited doubters and knockers, to achieve the dream of a state-of-the-art track and both training and hospitality facilities to match.
“His determination, desire, stoicism and on occasions sheer pig-headiness as he worked tirelessly at the coal face was infectious to us all and gave the Committee the confidence and resolve during difficult times to push on to eventually realise what was and is a meritorious outcome.
“He was the vanguard on our march to the new Murray Bridge Race Club,’’ he said.
Nolan’s tireless work in helping establish Murray Bridge’s Gifford Hill facility was echoed by Racing SA Chief Executive Vaughn Lynch.
“Reg was instrumental in leading the Murray Bridge Racing Club and Committee through the development at Gifford Hill,’’ Lynch said.
“He has been one of the key figures in helping deliver the Murray Bridge racing and training facility which is a world class establishment,’’ he said.
“On behalf of the entire South Australian racing community our deepest condolences go out to Reg’s wife Sue and the Nolan family.”
The Murray Bridge Racing Club will honour Nolan with the Vale Reg Nolan Handicap at this Saturday’s meeting. The race will be run at 1.17pm, with staff, patrons and jockeys to hold a minute silence prior to the race. Jockey will also wear black arm bands in memory of Reg.
