The racing community has been left devastated on Saturday by the passing of veteran trainer and friend, Rick Worthington, after a long battle with cancer since his melanoma diagnosis in 2012.
The veteran trainer was born in Bowral and was a member of the Royal Australian Navy before taking an interest in horse racing. He took out a trainer's licence in 2006.
Worthington trained several smart gallopers, including two-time Group 2 winner Whitefriars (Arena) and Honesty Prevails (Redoute's Choice). His most recent city winner was Steel Diamond (Star Witness). His record totalled 169 career wins and almost $4 million in prizemoney.
However, it was as an educator of young horses that many would say his horsemanship craft truely shone through. Worthington spent 25 years as a breaker and pre-trainer, having been part of the early development of champion horses such as Exceed And Excel, Flying Spur, Encosta De Lago, Snitzel and Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) to name a few.
Worthington spent time as a horse educator for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Macau Jockey Club preparing horses to be sold. Worthington was also on the board of the NSW trainers association and was the president of the Warwick Farm trainers association, positions which he held for over five years.
A man of 'high principle and much courage'
Arrowfield Stud Chairman John Messara formed a close relationship with Worthington, beginning back in the days of champion sire Danehill’s (USA) first-crop of horses.
“I’ve had a great relationship with Rick, never a cross word in 35 years,” Messara said.
“My association with Rick started around the time of the first-crop of Danehill to be broken in in Australia. He broke in colts like Nothin Leica Dane, Danzero, Flying Spur, he did a wonderful job with young horses.
“He told me early on just how good they were going to be - this was the ability he had. Just educating a horse, he could give you a good idea of its ability.
“He was a man who loved the industry and he’s going to be a great loss. We’re going to miss him a lot."
Messara said Worthington was a man he and the rest of the industry respected deeply.
“Rick was a man of high principle and much courage and he was a true professional in the horse industry,” he said.
"Rick was a man of high principle and much courage and he was a true professional in the horse industry." - John Messara
“He fought this disease for eight years and somehow hung in there. You wouldn’t know looking at him, but he was obviously suffering and of course it got the best of him.”
Messara also spoke of the horseman’s character, saying he just loved what he did and was always honest with those around him.
"Because of his high quality character, Rick had many long term clients that stayed with him all the way through, ourselves amongst them."
“He was a very forthright and earnest and honest person,” Messara said. “He was loyal in the true sense of the word, he was a good man. And at the end of the day, that's what's important.
“He had a very close relationship with his partner Rachel and although he was sick, he tried not to show it. They got on so well and they were such a good pair.”
The late Rick Worthington
Emotional tributes
Once hearing the news of Worthington's passing, jockeys at Royal Randwick donned black armbands in a tribute to their friend.
Australian jockey Nash Rawiller said: “Rick’s been a trainer that I would say everyone in the room has had success for. And if they haven’t ridden winners for him, they have had the pleasure of knowing him.
“We’ve all known he has had a tough battle the last few years, but he is a fella that always had a smile on his face and something good to say.”
"He is a fella that always had a smile on his face and something good to say." - Nash Rawiller
After winning the G2 Chelmsford S., champion trainer Chris Waller was emotional as he spoke about the loss of the popular horseman.
"All the trainers found out about half an hour ago and there was just an eerie silence," he said, fighting back tears. "To lose a man like Rick, it's very sad. Too young.
"He was the first one to help anyone out, for someone who is doing it tough, and he's done it tougher than anyone over the last few years and he'd be the last one to show it.
"A fantastic horseman and just a dedicated man to horses all his life. It's a sad day.”
