The Inghams took over and ran Australia's largest breeding operation, Woodlands Stud, from 1985 until it was sold to Darley in 2008, while they also operated the country's biggest racing operation, which was headquartered from Crown Lodge.
Their first champion in their ownership was the 1967 Golden Slipper S. winner Sweet Embrace (Todman) and they followed that success with a host of Group 1 winners in their famous cerise colours, including 10-time Group 1 winner Octagonal (NZ), and his 11-time Group 1-winning son Lonhro.
The Inghams also won the Golden Slipper through John's Hope (Wilkes {Fr}) in 1972, Guineas (Crown Jester) in 1997 and Forensics (Flying Spur) in 2007, some of over 80 Group 1 successes.
John Hawkes was the primary trainer for Crown Lodge under the Inghams, after Vic Thompson had won the Sydney trainers' premiership in 1991/92. Peter Snowden also filled the role as trainer for the Inghams.
But it was their investment in Woodlands Stud which created an amazing legacy, having stood highly influential stallions such as Octagonal, Lonhro, Canny Lad, Commands, Quest For Fame (GB) and Strategic, while producing a production line of homebred racehorses that would dominate Australia's greatest races for three decades.
The late Bob and the late Jack Ingham
The Ingham brothers were inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004 for their services to the Australian racing industry.
Bob Ingham's family confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Ingham had passed away surrounded by loved ones earlier this week.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce our beloved father, Bob Ingham, passed away yesterday at home aged 88 surrounded by his family," a family statement said.
"Bob always had a passion for horse racing. Along with Jack they turned this passion into the largest thoroughbred racing and breeding operation in Australia at the time.
"He was a pioneer and visionary of his day whose work and legacy will live on for many years.
"He was a pioneer and visionary of his day whose work and legacy will live on for many years. "
"His hard work, commitment and philosophy of 'doing the right things and doing things right' underpinned everything he did. He made us very proud. We will miss him greatly."
As well as heading up the famously successful family poultry business with his brother Jack, who passed away in 2003. Bob was a renowned philanthropist, whose vision for an independent specialist centre for health and medical research facility in western Sydney was realised in 2012 when the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research was opened in Liverpool.
After the sale of Woodlands to global giant Darley for a reported $500 million in 2008, the Inghams poultry business, which is headquartered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula, was sold to private equity firm TPG for $880 million in 2013.
"Bob, along with his brother Jack, made a significant contribution over the past 60 plus years not just to the needs of Liverpool's local population but also the greater southwest Sydney community and ultimately, through one of Australia's home-grown business success of Inghams Enterprises, the wider Australian population," the family said.
A much-loved husband of Norma (deceased), Bob was a devoted father to Lyn, Debbie, Robby and John, grandfather to 10 grandchildren and great grandfather of three great grandchildren.
His love of thoroughbred racing has carried on through the family, with his daughter Debbie, a shareholder in superstar mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), while his son John was a vice-chairman of the Australian Turf Club.
Inghams struck at right time
Trevor Lobb, who was General Manager at the Inghams' Woodlands Stud from 1987 until 2008, said Bob was a man of unique talent and character.
"He was such a meticulous person who cared for all the facts and figures, as far as everything with the business. He ran it just the same way as they did with the chicken business," Lobb told TDN AusNZ.
Trevor Lobb and the late Bob Ingham
Lobb said the amazing success of the racing and breeding operation was owned to the fact that the Inghams had been patient enough to wait until they were ready to invest at the necessary level to achieve success.
"They always had the passion but they waited until such time that they could build it and build it in such a way that they wished to do so. From that time on, they continued to build it to get bigger and better," he said.
Lobb said the meticulous planning and business acumen allowed the Inghams to operate at a volume which had never been seen before in Australia.
"We were racing in four states, and we would have 200 in work a week. The whole thing was just run so well with the infrastructure in place," he said.
"They'd always had that interest in horses since they were kids, but they waited until they could do it properly and proved throughout that it could be done very, very successfully."
Trevor Lobb, the late Bob Ingham and John Hawkes
Lobb said the lessons he learned working with Bob Ingham would stick with him throughout his life.
"He was all about honesty. He was a man of a handshake, they both were. I'd been with Inglis for a number of years and they asked me to join them, and from that point on, between the two boys, it was more like I was a son rather than an employee," he said.
Lobb said the Inghams had left a lasting legacy on so many aspects of the Australian thoroughbred industry, but perhaps the most significantly on the breed itself.
"If you look at the pedigrees and families we made at Woodlands, you see that influence every day here in Australia," he said.
Waller farewells a mentor
Bob Ingham continued to race horses in the distinct cerise colours of the family after selling Woodlands and Crown Lodge with the majority under the care of Chris Waller, who he supported as a fledgling trainer back in 2008.
Waller, now Australia's leading trainer, paid tribute to the influence Ingham had on his career.
"I will never forget the first call from him, when he said he wanted to continue on racing in a smaller scale and have some fun with his beautiful family," he said.
"Mr Ingham, along with Robby, Lyn, Debbie and John, have given me a huge amount of support since I began training for them and the manner in which they conduct their family life and business has attracted recognition from all walks of life.
"Their generosity towards charities and health research are examples of what people have come to expect from Mr Ingham and his family.
"Their generosity towards charities and health research are examples of what people have come to expect from Mr Ingham and his family. " - Chris Waller
"I will certainly miss Mr Ingham's support and guidance he has shown me through the years. He has been a great systems man, plus the constant hint of attention to detail and doing things properly will always been engrained in my mind. On a racetrack, whether it be a good day or a bad day, he was always the same man, and I am grateful for this."
Waller praised Ingham's simple approach to ownership and said he will miss his mentorship.
"Since I began training for the Ingham family, I would have a phone call from Mr Ingham at 4pm each Friday which will be a missing part of my life come this Friday."
Chris Waller (centre) with Bob Ingham's daughters Lyn (left) and Debbie (right) after training his first winner for the Inghams
A man of influence
Racing NSW’s CEO, Peter V’landys, also praised the enormous influence Ingham had on Australian racing.
“Bob Ingham, along with his brother Jack, created one of the largest thoroughbred racing and breeding empires ever seen in Australia,” he said.
“I’m personally very saddened by the passing of Bob – when I first entered the industry, he was of great assistance to me and provided much learning and information.
“Bob was a very kind man who had presence and a great personality; the industry is so much the poorer for the loss of one of our legends.
“We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Mr Ingham’s family and friends at the loss of such a well-respected individual in both racing and business.”
The family confirmed a funeral will be held for Ingham, but due to COVID-19, the service will be by invitation only.
The late Bob Ingham congratulates Darren Beadman after Lonhro's win in the G1 Australia Cup
Industry tributes
