Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
One of Australia’s best-known horsemen, Mr John Drennan, passed away in the early hours of last Friday morning in Toowoomba.
In an ABC Big Country documentary on the late T. J. Smith, he declared John Drennan as “the greatest horseman he had ever seen”.
John was born on 26 October 1938 at Augathella. He commenced race riding at Tambo on 22 October 1954.
From this humble beginning emerged one of the greatest amateur jockeys ever seen, who was eventually forced to turn professional by the stipendiary stewards in the CQRA and D&SWDRA, when they deemed he was too accomplished to ride at both amateur and professional meetings. Later, John became a horse breaker, handler, and educator of thoroughbreds for T. J. Smith and Bart Cummings, working from a section of the W. Inglis & Son Newmarket Stables he leased at Randwick.
John’s first winner was for his sister Joan at Tambo on 27 December 1954. He then developed a close association with the Reg Kent stable in Tambo, breaking in and educating many top-line gallopers that made their way to the city, including Alspick (Avignon {GB}), Jolly Spear, Transdown and Translipper.
Alspick was a very good galloper, winning the AJC Summer Cup (twice), the City Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Grafton Ramornie, and the Ipswich Nolan Handicap, along with numerous other races. In one season, he ran fourth in the Group 1 AJC Doncaster, fifth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and third in a Queensland Cup, demonstrating his versatility.
During his amateur days, John was a regular at the major amateur carnivals in Townsville, Rockhampton, and Cairns. He rode the local Tambo galloper Captain Peter for the Sargood family to win the Rockhampton Bracelet in 1959.
After turning professional, John moved to the Rockhampton area, where he both trained and rode for the Ohl family. He won 16 races with a mare called Coral Charm and also rode Mogal Stream. Weight was always a challenge for John in maintaining rides at the lighter weights required of professional jockeys, so eventually he and his wife Barbara moved to Sydney in 1973. During his career, he rode hundreds of winners across Queensland.
This move marked the beginning of an association that lasted decades. Although he did not break in Kingston Town (Bletchingly), he is credited with educating the champion when he was still a colt. Other top-line horses under his care included Bounding Away (Biscay), Star Watch, Toy Show (Showdown {GB}), and Show Ego Showddown {GB}).
For T. J. Smith’s brother Ernie and son Sterling, he also broke in Bold Promise (Luskin Star). He worked with the Bill Mitchell stable in its fledgling days, as well as numerous other Sydney trainers.
After retiring, John and Barbara moved to Toowoomba. Our sympathy and thoughts are with his family, including daughters Jackie, Jo-Ann, and Jai.
John’s younger brother, Terry, has been a well-known farrier in the Toowoomba area for many years. Visitors to the Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba can see the master blacksmith at work as he demonstrates his many skills at the forge.
Terry was also a champion horseman and won the World Open Buckjump Championship at Mt Isa in August 1973. The bronc saddle he won as part of the prize is now housed in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach.
