LEGENDARY TRAINER HONOURED
J.J. ATKINS ENTERS TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
LEGENDARY Toowoomba horse trainer Jim “J.J.” Atkins was this week announced as one of the very first inductees into the Toowoomba Regional Sports Hall of Fame.
Atkins, who died in 2010, famously trained over 3,000 winners – including some of the best gallopers in Australia. He trained right up to his death at age 94 and flew the flag for the Toowoomba Turf Club with horses such as Dalrello, Grey Affair, Prince Ruling, Just Now and Mr Cromwell.
Toowoomba Turf Club Chairman Kent Woodford was delighted with the announcement.
“Jim Atkins is, no doubt, the most successful trainer that Toowoomba has ever produced. To have him recognized locally is a wonderful honour.
“I’m delighted that our great sport of horse racing is being recognised alongside more mainstream sports like football, what an honour for Jim’s family and the industry overall.
“The TTC has two function spaces named in the memory of Jim and one of his most famous thoroughbreds – the J.J. Atkins Terrace and the Dalrello Deck.”
Atkins trained the 1977 Weetwood Handicap winner, Diego.
Atkins was one of the first inductees of the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame and has a Group 1 race named in his honour in Brisbane each year, as part of the Winter Racing Carnival.
Atkins will be inducted alongside rugby league’s Duncan Thompson, rugby union’s Tim Horan and Olympian Glynis Nunn-Cearns at a public function later this year.
In other Clifford Park news, 2018 Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood tickets have gone on-sale, including tickets for the brand new Clive Berghofer Grande Atrium (marquee). Clifford Park will also announce the 2018 Face Of Weetwood ambassador tomorrow.
