Brian Russell writes - ALTHOUGH he had not enjoyed the best of health for sometime, the sudden death at Scone on January 24 of 64-year-old Noel Leckie was a huge loss for the local community and NSW racing. Principal of a chartered accountancy practice in the town, he had been a driving force as race club president in one of the greatest adventures in country racing, the staging of a $2million two day Scone Cup carnival over Friday and Saturday in mid May each year.
A grand finale to the annual Scone Horse Festival, the carnival embraces eight black type races and a stand alone Saturday program replacing the Sydney meeting. It is the richest and most black type adorned country carnival in Australia, and possibly the world.
Much of its success has been through Noel Leckie's drive and enthusiasm and ability to work with Racing NSW and liaison with the major Hunter Valley studs, a group whose financial support has been crucial in the development of the carnival.
He had been on the committee of the Scone Race Club since they opened the town's new racing centre in 1994, most of the time serving as either vice president or president. He was instrumental in building an upstairs members section in the grandstand which has few peers outside of metropolitan tracks.
Noel Leckie was not only a highly respected Scone racing administrator and businessman, but a successful breeder and owner of racehorses. Only two weeks before his death, he had the joy of being the breeder of Houtzen, an I Am Invincible filly who remained unbeaten after three starts when she took out the $2million dollar Magic Million 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14 and who is prepost favourite for the Golden Slipper.
Houtzen was foaled and raised on I Am Invincible's home stud, Yarraman Park, one conducted by the brothers Arthur and Harry Mitchell. Two other good I Am Invincibles are Most Important, a winner of seven races and earner to date of over $600,000 bred by a partnership of Yarraman Park Stud, N Leckie and F W Mitchell, and Voodoo Lad, a Leckie bred gelding in the Darren Weir stables. Winner of nine of 18 starts and also earner of over $600,000,Voodoo Lad was a close second in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke at Caulfield on September 24. Voodoo Lad races for Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, N S Leckie D Anderson and P W Blackburn.
Back in the 1990s, Noel Leckie raced in partnership with Yarraman Park Syn (Manager, A Mitchell), Mrs P Arnott and Mrs K W Mitchell a gelding named Cardinal Puff. A son of Yarraman Park used Papal Power (USA), he won races at Randwick, Canterbury, Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Scone. The latter win gave them an extra thrill as it was on the program that opened the new track.
Arthur Mitchell, himself a former Scone Race Club president, in a eulogy said that Noel Leckie was a great friend to many people Australia wide, not just in the racing game, but from all walks of life "Noel always had time to help and advise anybody and he had a great affinity with young people. Noel's knowledge of the breeding and racing industries was immense and I can honestly say his knowledge of country racing was second to none," Mitchell commented.
Farewelled at a funeral at Scone on Tuesday January 31, Noel Leckie is survived by his wife Julie and offspring Skye (28) and Campbell (24).
