North Queensland trainer Ricky Ludwig hangs up the reins

By Garry Dell

Successful North Queensland owner and trainer Ricky Ludwig has decided to hang up the reins on a 50-year career.

Ludwig has sold his last two remaining gallopers Ishotthedeputy and It's Been A Trek and plans to spend more time at home.

"I love the game and you never know I might miss it too much and get another couple down the track,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig, who began his training career while working at the meat works in Beaudesert, took on full-time training at Beaudesert and Ipswich and had up to 14 horses in work as well as a spelling complex.

"I found that 10 horses in work was a good number and we had a lot of success down there, including several winners at Eagle Farm and Doomben over the years,” Ludwig said.

"My best horses included Pan Gold, Row Boat, Sundae Jester and a highly-promising filly in Reach Higher who won twice at Toowoomba.

"She could have been anything Reach Higher but battled with injuries.

"We had a lot of good luck over the years before moving up to Malanda in semi-retirement eight years ago.

"I've had some good horses up here including Windmill Lane, Tycoon Thunder, Lord of Light and of course Bank Bank Bank who was probably the best of them all.

"Bank Bank Bank was unbeaten in six starts for me before going to Hong Kong where he's won races and will win more over there."

Racing and Sports' records show Ludwig has trained a total of 346 winners, including 102 since moving to North Queensland.

Ludwig was known for his strike-rate and would often place his horses to perfection. 

Ludwig has won races on almost all North Queensland tracks and a host of country Cups and feature races, including the Johnstone River Handicap at Innisfail twice with grand galloper Windmill Lane.

He and jockey Frank Edwards have been a formidable combination with 48 winners from 122 runners in the north while Graeme Birney was Ludwig's main rider down south, notching up 65 winners from 275 rides along with Ken Sawyers (30 winners) and Sheree Drake (20).

The larrikin Ludwig will be sorely missed from the training ranks in the north.