Queensland racing industry mourns loss of Kevin Kearney

By Jordan Gerrans

Kevin Kearney is being remembered as a top horseman and for his humour at the track following the long-time trainer's passing last Friday.

The veteran Eagle Farm trainer was 75 years of age.

Kevin was best known for regularly preparing city winners in Brisbane as well as producing a runner for the famous Melbourne Cup back in 1981.

He worked as a travelling foreman for the late champion trainer Tommy Smith for five years before he relocated to Brisbane to begin his own training career.

Kevin also rode as a jockey in his younger days before working for Smith. 

Leading Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch spent a year working for Kevin at the end of his riding apprenticeship back in 1982.

Hatch recalled the influence of his late mentor.

“He was a champion bloke, a terrific bloke,” Hatch said.

“He was always looking for a laugh and was just a genuinely good person. There is plenty I still use from what I learnt from Kevin and he was awfully like Tommy if I am being truthful.

“He would get them fit and always had the horses looking well. He taught me a heap.”

Kevin’s son Quinton followed in his father's footsteps and eventually became a trainer himself.

Quinton says his late dad took pride in rejuvenating horses that other stables had moved on.

In the couple of years before Kevin gave away training in 2002, he enjoyed success with gallopers such as Quin the Eskimo, Perform, Dittydoo and Dance in the Dark, among others. 

“He was really good with horses that were broken down and showed ability, he brought them back,” Quinton said.

“He was a good trainer, he liked to take horses to the beach and get the best out of them after they had problems.

“He used to get them to win in town quite regularly. Most of the photos he had on the wall from winners were from Eagle Farm and Doomben.”

As Hatch was battling with his weight in the later stages of his riding tenure, his then boss helped him land a job that would continue his involvement in the racing industry.

As Kevin did before he began training, he landed Hatch a job with Hall of Fame trainer Smith.

“He got me a job with Tommy Smith when I gave away riding,” Hatch remembers.

“I was with Tommy for four years travelling around Kevin was instrumental in me getting that job.

“It was really good, I had a really good job as his number one travelling work rider and rode some of the best Group 1 horses he had.”

Quinton estimates his father trained around 175 winners in his some 30 years at Eagle Farm.

It was a great thrill for the Kearney clan when Kevin had Cocked Hat run in the 1981 Melbourne Cup.

While Cocked Hat finished back in the field, Kevin’s old boss Smith won that edition of the Cup with Just A Dash.

Quinton idolized his father when he would take him to the track in his younger days.

“I used to follow him around like a tail light, he was a great bloke,” Quinton said.

“He was always keen for a joke at the track every morning and he was popular amongst the other trainers in the mornings. He was always happy.

“He was a very popular man within the racing world”

Quinton held a trainers licence for a number of years as well and is still involved in the industry through breeding thoroughbreds.  

Kevin’s funeral will be held at Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium in Tingalpa from 11am on Monday, 22 January.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Kearney family.