Racing industry mourns passing of Mr Bart Cummings Australia is today mourning the passing of one its treasures, Mr Bart Cummings OAM at 87yo. Bart passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning at his beloved Princes Farm. “Bart was a legend in every sense of the word, not only in sport, as he was a great Australian,” said Racing NSW’s Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM. “Bart’s career spanned more than six decades and he was a household name. “We only recently celebrated Bart’s 60 years in training – a fantastic feat with many trainers’ careers spanning a decade or two, yet Bart trained for more than six decades. “And in 2008 we honoured Bart with the prestigious Bart Cummings Medal awarded to the most outstanding NSW performer among jockeys and trainers throughout the season. “Bart was always in a league of his own. His larger than life character and sharp wit will be sorely missed. Bart goes down as a legend in Australian sport, up there with the great Don Bradman. “We would like to pass on our sincere condolences on the loss of a great man to Bart’s wife of 61 years, Valmae and his extended family including son Anthony, and grandsons James – who was partnering Bart as a trainer – and Edward who is stable foreman for Anthony.” Bart won 12 Melbourne Cups – a feat that is unlikely to be ever matched let alone bettered – four Golden Slippers, five Doncaster Miles and won in excess of 7,000 races and 268 Group 1 races. In a long list of achievements, Bart also won 32 Derbies, 24 Oaks, seven Caulfield Cups, five Cox Plates and 13 Australian Cups. Bart was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1982 for his services to the racing industry and nine years later was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Bart was also an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and in 2007 Australia Post displayed his image on a postage stamp as part of its Australian Legends series.

Image: Cummings on the right with Australian Prime Minister Howard .

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