South Australian trainer John Hall remembered as a natural horseman

John Hall, who was a trusted foreman for Bart Cummings before becoming a successful trainer in his own right, was remembered as a “real horseman” who left a lasting impression on many.

John Hall (left) holding Melbourne Cup winner Red Handed, with son Barney aboard. Picture: Supplied

Renowned Adelaide trainer John Hall will be remembered by family and friends as a natural horseman who left a lasting impression on the careers of many.

Hall was a key figure in South Australian racing for more than 40 years, working as the Adelaide stable foreman for legendary trainer Bart Cummings, before taking out his own trainers’ license in 1985.

He died last month on August 18. He was 89.

Hall grew up in Hawker, where he took out a trainers’ licence before being approached to move to Adelaide in 1965 to work under “Cups King” Cummings.

There Hall became an integral part of the success that saw Cummings dominate feature staying races around Australia, preparing champion gallopers such as Red Handed, Lowland, Leilani, Think Big and Dayana.

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Cummings – a trainer of 12 Melbourne Cup winners – trusted Hall as his right-hand man over a 20-year period, often sending him across the border with talented horses for an interstate raid.

“At Christmas time, Bart would send him to Perth every year with his horses for the carnival, horses such as Leica Lover, Dayana, Asgard, Bounty Hawk – everything Bart sent,” Barney Hall, John’s son, said.

“It was a bit of a thank you holiday for dad, every year Bart sent him to Perth with his team and I don’t think he ever come back without a winner.

“Everyone used to say to him, ‘you would’ve learnt a lot off Bart’, and one day at the sales Bart said, ‘I’ve also learnt a lot from him too’.”

John Hall as a youngster in Hawker. Picture: Supplied

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Cummings also entrusted Hall with a trip to America alongside recently retired stallion Taj Rossi in 1975, but sickness forced Hall to return early.

Hall had a hand in eight of 12 Melbourne Cup winners for Cummings.

His son’s Barney and Chris describe him as a natural with horses, who had an unwavering commitment to racing.

“He used to ride a bit of work at Bart’s, he then rode a few of his own down the beach early days,” Barney said.

“His occupation was a horse trainer, but he was more of a horseman.”

Chris Hall added: “He went three years without a holiday once, our mother used to take us away for school holidays.

“When dad did take a holiday, guess where he went? To the races, the Kingscote Cup carnival and Port Lincoln Cup carnival. It was in his blood.”

With an abundance of knowledge under his belt, Hall began his own 20-year journey training in his own right in 1985 – when Cummings left Adelaide for Sydney.

Hall was offered the leading foreman role for Cummings in Melbourne, but knocked it back preferring to stay in Adelaide with his family.

Hall took over the training of four Cummings’ horses that hadn’t gone to Sydney, and quickly found success notching his first winner with Kotiko.

Hall leased stables from trainer Alan Smith, and later on Peter Jolly at Morphettville, with the support of his wife Rosemary and three sons Chris, Barney and Russell.

“When he went out on his own, mum was down at the stable mucking out the boxes, mum was a big part of the partnership,” Barney said.

Veteran trainer John Hall walks Striking Twig at Morphettville one morning. Picture: Pip Blackwood

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Hall was supported by many loyal owners including Ray Bradmore, Wayne Raven, J & K Nelligan, Jim and Joan Bryant and also the Minijumbuk crowd.

During his training career Hall prepared smart gallopers such as Royal Line, Umaline, Debuton, Mustinair, Purple Rain, Pam Phile, Beagle Bay, Dunster Castle, Star Gypsy and Scotch Caper.

He also achieved remarkable success with talented mare Saratov, winning the Perth Cup in 1989 with Richard Jolly aboard.

The win was an Australian record for the two-mile distance at the time.

Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey John Letts shared his memories of Hall, including an ordeal with talented filly Byam Century, who was struck down with illness after a win at Morphettville one day.

“They had to wait until after the last race to get her off the course, she was that sick, she must’ve picked up a bug that hadn’t shown up until she come under pressure,” Letts said.

“John Hall actually stayed at the stable, changed her rug every three to four hours until she left to Sydney to be operated on. They couldn’t save her, but he stayed at the stable and slept in the stall alongside her.

“That’s the sort of guy that he was.

“He was more than a foreman for a racing stable, he was a real horseman.”

Hall played a pivotal role in helping a number of talented young jockeys make their way in the industry, including Group 1-winning trainer Phillip Stokes and Group 1-winning jockey Dwayne Dunn – both served apprenticeships under Hall.

“He always wanted to know what Phillip had racing and he always wanted to know what Dunny was riding in Melbourne,” Barney said.

“Bradley Vale was an apprentice also, dad took on Gavin Eades for the last six months of his apprenticeship and he just came over here and kicked a---.

Adelaide trainer John Hall. Picture: SAJC Journal

Dunn, who won 24 Group 1s across a decorated career, arrived at Hall’s at the age of 15, and served a six-year apprenticeship that laid the foundation for his success.

“He played a big part in my career for sure,” Dunn said.

“When I started with him, if he wasn’t having two to three winners on a Saturday he was having a bad day.

“He was a hard man to deal with, but he was very fair, once it was said it was forgotten. He was critical of what you did, but it was to better your improvement as a person. You learnt more than just riding in races.

“He was a great horseman, he had all the bush remedies – that was right up his alley.”

Hall continued to follow the exploits of those he had nurtured, despite being plagued by blindness and dementia in his later years.

“He always wanted to know what they were doing even when he couldn’t see. He was always following them,” Barney said.

After retiring from training in the mid-2000s, Hall moved to Port Augusta following the passing of Rosemary after 51 years of marriage.

“When mum passed he sold up, moved to Port Augusta, travelled Australia with his partner Maxine in the caravan, and many overseas cruises which they both loved,” he said.

Hall will be remembered by family and friends at a memorial service in November.

Originally published as South Australian trainer John Hall remembered as a natural horseman