Fab’s Cowboy’s last stand: The ultimate ‘rags to rags’ story

Racing marvel Fab’s Cowboy will greet the starter for the final time on Saturday and racing writer Ben Dorries is in outback Queensland, following the iconic horse and telling the colourful stories of those around him.

It’s sport’s ultimate “rags to rags” story.

So says Fab’s Cowboy’s part-owner Paul Currin, a cattle and sheep farmer who quips he was poor when the record-breaking bush marvel first started racing in 2015 – and he’s still poor now.

But he’s sure had a hell of lot of fun along the way.

During two heartbreaking droughts in Fab’s Cowboy’s nine-year racing career, father of four Currin and his family have at least always been able to rely on prizemoney from Fab’s Cowboy rolling in.

Currin, from Drillham, near Miles in Queensland’s western downs, says Fab’s Cowboy certainly hasn’t made him rich. But he has helped to haul him through some challenging times and given him a lifetime of special memories.

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It will be an emotional moment when the 12-year-old bush horse with 54 wins – more victories than any other horse in the modern era – is forced into compulsory retirement after his final start on the Longreach dirt track on Saturday.

“You always hear about the rags to riches stories … this is a rags to rags story,” Currin said.

“We were poor when he started racing and we are poor when he finishes racing.

“But we have had a bloody good time in between.

“There are so many stories that you hear of people who are broke and then they get a star racehorse and they get wealthy.

“We have a good racehorse, but we certainly haven’t got rich. It’s been rich in memories, but maybe not in the bank account.

“Fab’s Cowboy is going to retire to Living Legends in Melbourne and I’m very confident that Liz (Currin’s cousin and Fab’s Cowboy part-owner) and I will be the poorest people to have a horse there.”

Fab’s Cowboy, who almost died in scorching 52 degree heat on his first day on earth at Julia Creek in outback Queensland, grabbed an incredible slice of racing history in Mount Isa in March when he scored his 52nd career win.

It eclipsed the previous modern day record of Walk Cool, who won 51 races across central Queensland from 1988 to 1995.

Fab’s Cowboy will have his 159th and final start on Saturday, with racing rules stating horses must retire when they turn 13.

Currin says Fab’s Cowboy’s long racing journey has been uplifting emotionally – and occasionally financially.

Through a pair of devastating droughts, the king of bush racing kept putting money on the table.

Fab's Cowboy and part owner Paul Currin. Picture: Supplied.

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“During one drought, the cattle we had weren’t really going ahead and we had no real income coming in because it was so dry,” Currin said.

“But every month we were getting $3000 in prizemoney in the bank from Fab’s Cowboy, even after we had paid for his training fees.

“It was really helpful.

“Life was tough but there was one little part of your life that was winning the whole time, so it made things easier.

“When everything else looks like you are losing, at least something was winning.”

Paul Currin (left) has a full heart of special memories from Fab's Cowboy.

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Currin also remembers another drought when things were so tough that Fab’s Cowboy may have been sold – or even given away – if he hadn’t started winning.

“We had just run out of money, we had a few horses and we thought if they don’t win now then we are just going to have to give them away as we couldn’t afford the bills any more,” Currin said.

“But Fab’s Cowboy won one weekend at Gladstone and the other two horses ran third.

“Then two or three weeks later, Fab’s Cowboy ran third and the other two horses won.

“That helped to get things back on track a bit.”

Currin, who for a time strapped Fab’s Cowboy on race day, will travel to Longreach to farewell Fab’s Cowboy when he has his last start on Saturday.

Afterwards, life will not quite be the same for Currin and also for Fab’s Cowboy’s trainer Bevan “Billy” Johnson, who trains out of Barcaldine.

Fab’s Cowboy really is the horse of a lifetime.

Originally published as Fab’s Cowboy’s last stand: The ultimate ‘rags to rags’ story