Racing loses ‘true pioneer’ as Queensland breeding legend Colin McAlpine passes away

COLIN McAlpine was on Friday remembered as a trailblazer for the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry and a man who turned his passion into a lifelong success story.

Colin McAlpine with his son Scott. Photo: courtesy Magic Millions.

COLIN McAlpine was on Friday remembered as a trailblazer for the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry and a man who turned his passion into a lifelong success story.

McAlpine, 84, died on Thursday night after a long battle with illness and spending his final two months in hospital.

He was a giant in Queensland breeding for many years. His beloved Eureka Stud, the Darling Downs nursery that was started by his father Andrew in 1935, produced Group race winners all over Australia.

He was president of Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Australia for 17 years and also headed the national body for 14 years, during which time he chaired a 1986 subcommittee that delivered income tax deductions to thoroughbred breeders, benefits that still apply.

“He achieved a lot in the industry and helped take it on the road it is now,” son Scott McAlpine said. “He had the foresight to do things in the infancy days and he made changes that needed to be made. Racing and breeding was his life and his obsession. It was his passion to see this industry go ahead.

“When Spirit Of Boom won the 10,000, he was able to be on track and it made it more exciting having him there with us that day.”

One of McAlpine’s closest friends was the visionary trainer Colin Hayes, whose son David was among those to pay tribute yesterday.

“He was one of my father’s best friends,” Hayes said. “There was hardly a Saturday that went by when he wouldn’t speak to Dad. He loved a punt. He will be sadly missed, but I really feel he’s in a better place now. He had been sick for a long time.”

McAlpine had a hand in either breeding or owning many good horses, but Semipalatinsk and his daughter Just Now were the two he held dearest.

“I suppose to bring a horse like Semipalatinsk to Australia, have him serving from three years to his death at 28 and sire a Magic Millions winner (Sea Cabin) and AJC Oaks winner (Just Now) and hundreds of others along the way was pretty special,” Scott said.

Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders chairman Basil Nolan described McAlpine as a “fine horseman and entrepreneur”.

“He was a true gentleman and well respected in the industry not just in Australia, but worldwide,” Nolan said. “Colin was a pioneer of the breeding industry and one of the first people to risk importing stallions.”

McAlpine is survived by his wife Jill, sister Essie, daughter Jenny, Scott and his wife Grania and their three sons Charlie, Angus and Harry.

His funeral will be held in Toowoomba on Tuesday at 12.30pm at the Burstow Chapel in Ruthven St.

Originally published as Racing loses ‘true pioneer’ as Queensland breeding legend Colin McAlpine passes away