On Friday night Colin Hayes AM OBE will be officially elevated to a status in an industry that had already bestowed him the same title - Legend.
The patriarch of a racing and breeding dynasty that has spanned three generations will become just the eighth Hall of Fame Legend at Friday's induction ceremony in Sydney.
"When you look at the names he is joining it makes you very proud. "Pa" was always a legend to us but to be officially recognised as such is fantastic," Colin's grandson Sam explained.
Hayes joins fellow training legends Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings and gallopers Phar Lap and Makybe Diva in being bestowed the Hall of Fames highest accolade.
Hayes trained 5333 winners including 97 Group One winners, a tally that has now lifted to over 200 under the Lindsay Park banner.
"Colin lived by the motto 'the future belongs to those who plan for it'. He taught us that with planning, persistence and hard work you can be successful, especially if you love what you do," Sam Hayes said.
Colin Hayes was a central figure in the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry pioneering the shuttle stallion concept with the Sangster and Magnier families.
Hayes most successful stallion Without Fear broke a sixty-year-old world record for 2YO winners amassing a staggering 30 winners of 49 races, including 6 stakes winners.
Today Hayes' legacy lives on through a third generation with Sam Hayes at the helm of Cornerstone Stud in the Barossa Valley whilst Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes are training in partnership with Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes at Lindsay Park in Victoria.
2018 INDUCTEES
Legend Horse Jockeys Trainers
COLIN HAYES ABERCORN MALCOLM JOHNSTON JOHN SIZE
POITREL W.A. 'BILLY' SMITH CHRIS WALLER
AQUANITA
KARASI
Associates
SIR EDWARD DEAS THOMSON
GEORGE WATSON