In an important posthumous honour, the late Graham Salisbury and his famous grey, Subzero, will be recognised at this Friday’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Adelaide with the inaugural The Spirit of Racing Award.
The award was instigated this year by Racing Australia as a way to honour individuals and horses that might not meet the criteria for official induction into the Hall of Fame, but whom have made a sizeable contribution to the industry and sport.
For close to 32 years, Subzero raced and lived in the service of racing, with a Melbourne Cup-winning career that also included the G1 South Australian Derby and G1 Adelaide Cup. He was a Clerk of the Course pony for 14 years and, thereafter, an ambassador for Racing Victoria.
Alongside Salisbury, Subzero entered schools, hospices and aged-care facilities to meet the young, old and sick. He accepted awards and guest-appeared at galas, often entering ballrooms and function centres crowded with people and cameras.
When Subzero died in late August 2020, just a handful of months after the passing of Salisbury, it was a difficult day for racing, and it’s hard to argue that any horse before, or since, has furthered the sport quite so much.
Graham shared an incredibly special bond with Subzero | Image courtesy of Nikki Salisbury
In the Spirit of things
On Friday night, Salisbury’s son Tom will be on-hand to accept the Spirit of Racing Award on behalf of his late father. However, it isn’t the first time the legendary pair will have been honoured.
In 2014, under the guidance of the then Hall of Fame Chairman Bob Charley (who will be inducted as an associate on Friday night), Subzero and Salisbury were honoured with a Chairman’s Award at that year’s ceremony, and personally attended the event at the National Gallery in Canberra.
The Chairman’s Award had been presented only once before Subzero, in 2005 following the passing of former VRC Chairman David Bourke. Before Subzero’s honour, a swell of support for the horse’s induction into the Hall of Fame was occurring, with many names behind the cause, including media commentator Shane Anderson and the then Minister for Racing and Victorian Premier, Dr Denis Napthine.
"Subzero has etched his name into the national consciousness, extending the reach of thoroughbred racing beyond the racecourse and into the community." - Dr Denis Napthine
“Subzero has etched his name into the national consciousness, extending the reach of thoroughbred racing beyond the racecourse and into the community,” said Napthine at the time, addressing the Hall of Fame in an open letter.
However, on his racing merits alone, Subzero didn’t qualify for induction into the Hall of Fame, and the Spirit of Racing Award this year differs from the Chairman’s Award in that it will recognise the contribution of both Subzero and Salisbury, an important distinction.
Fitted to a tee
Subzero was bred by the late Sydney lawyer Brian Agnew, and foaled at Wakefield Stud (now Attunga Stud) in 1988. As a yearling in 1990, he was sold at Magic Millions for $100,000 to trainer Lee Freedman, knocked down by the illustrious and long-serving auctioneer David Chester.
After his passing last year, Subzero was cremated, remaining with the Salisbury family in country Victoria. Owing to COVID-19 and its stranglehold on public engagements through 2020, it was impossible to give both Salisbury and his horse an effective public send-off.
Subzero and Graham Salisbury | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Racing Australia is hoping that Friday night’s ceremony will be an appropriate tribute to the pair, and Brendan Parnell, the Chairman of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, is confident that it is befitting of the late friends.
“We introduced the Spirit of Racing Award to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in providing a service to the racing industry,” Parnell said. “Graham and Subzero fitted this criteria to a tee. The amazing duo took racing out into the community, and were loved by all who came across them.”
Currently, Racing Victoria hosts the Off The Track Subzero H. over 1400 metres each Cup Carnival, a race open to grey thoroughbreds only. As recently as 2019, Subzero led the field onto the track.
Last year’s winner was the French import Berdibek (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), bred by the late HH The Aga Khan and, trained by John O’Shea, the gelding is due for a next appearance in the Listed Darley Scone Cup on Friday.
