Image courtesy of David Hall
A successful jockey and trainer himself, it is the legacy of his mentorship of young jockeys who realised great success in the saddle and, for many, on to highly successful training careers that Joe Hall will be remembered for most.
Many credit their success to Hall, but none can do so more confidently than son David Hall who prepared Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) for the first of the Champion’s three G1 Melbourne Cup wins in 2003 and continues a successful career in Hong Kong.
David said from his Hong Kong base of the past 18 years, the 'Joe and Polly show' was legendary among the tight-knit Morphettville racing neighbourhood.
Joe and Polly Hall were married for 61 years and Polly’s funeral was held on the Friday before Joe died, his death coming just 17 days after hers. They are survived by children David, Jane and Mandy.
The Hall family | Image courtesy of David Hall
“It was a struggle and they made it work,’’ David said. “They made sure us kids were always a priority… even when we got left in the station wagon at the pub, at least we got a raspberry lemonade and chips.
"Everyone has a Joe’s Bar story. Mum would be ready to back up with another egg plate, cheese platter or Sunday roast whenever needed.
“It was Dad’s dream bar and office and Mum made it all happen.’’
Daughter Jane Holden said racing was everything to the Hall family.
“It was our life. Dad was the trainer, Mum was the hostess and we were the kids running around doing jobs. I used to get a lift to school in the horse float, it was just how it went.
"Dad was the trainer, Mum was the hostess and we were the kids running around doing jobs." - Jane Holden
“What was most incredible was the partnership that Mum and Dad formed.’’
One of nine children, Joe Hall and his immediate and extended family have had a massive impact in the world of racing. Hall's father Robert both rode and trained while Hall and four of his six brothers would follow in their dad's footsteps and also spend time in the saddle.
One of Joe's brothers, Ron, was a Champion jumps jockey in Victoria on numerous occasions and is the father of Greg, a 49-time Group 1-winning jockey. Greg's son Nicholas was also a multiple Group 1-winning rider.
A great mentor
Leading Adelaide and Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes says Joe Hall was a great mentor and even better neighbour, who continued his support and gave the benefit of his training experience long after his retirement.
“I have known Joe since I moved back from Japan some 20 years ago," said Stokes.
"He was our next-door neighbour (in Adelaide). A great neighbour and a very respected trainer back in the day.
“At the time he retired, I did a bit of trackwork with him. I didn’t have a lot of horses and he sent a couple of clients my way.’’
Joe Hall as a jockey| Image courtesy of David Hall
Joe and Polly had retained a racing interest with Stokes since Joe’s retirement and Joe’s Choisir (Choisir) will fittingly represent that close-knit racing relationship when racing on Wednesday at Balaklava in the maiden’s fourth start for Phillip Stokes Racing.
“Every Saturday I’d go to Joe’s bar at his place and together we would go through all my runners. If I had a bad day, he’d still call and we would go through all the runners of the day again and look at what to do," he said.
“He was a really good mentor. He always tried to give you a bit of advice.
“He was very good with the younger kids and some would most certainly credit Joe and Polly with getting them through times and challenges that could have easily seen them go a different way.’’
Always Mr Hall
When Jon O’Connor joined Joe Hall’s team at age 19, Hall was “having a great run with about 40 horses in his stable’’.
“I was part way through my apprenticeship when I moved over from Melbourne and Joe took me on… when I came out of my time he offered me the role as his stable rider,’’ O’Connor said. “I had some very good years and we’ve stayed close all that time.
“Recently, I spent quite a bit of time with Joe talking about those old days. He nurtured so many young riders and many of them became great riders and some have become great trainers.
"He nurtured so many young riders and many of them became great riders and some have become great trainers." - Jon O'Connor
“A lot of young people learned their craft from Joe. Everyone had a great respect for him… I have never stopped calling him Mr Hall as he earnt that respect.’’
O’Connor said Hall was known for being able to find the lighter side of almost any situation and was devoted to wife Polly, who was very much a part of team Hall.
Makybe Diva (GB) and trainer David Hall
“Going over and watching Makybe Diva win her first Melbourne Cup (under the preparation of son David Hall) was absolutely a highlight for Joe.
“But Regal Jester winning the (G1) South Australian Derby and beating Dulcify (in 1978) was certainly a big highlight for him," he said.
O'Connor says fate would deny Hall of the life-changing champion horse.
“I think he had some that got away.’’
O'Connor names Private Thoughts (Bletchingly), a full brother to Kingston Town, and Oenjay Star (Royal Yacht {GB}) along with Pacifica (Red God) among those horses of Hall’s that came close to being 'the one' in a glorious era of South Australian racing where Hall competed with, and was highly respected by, the likes of Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and John Hawkes who called Adelaide home at that time.
