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The founder of Newhaven Park Stud, Boorowa NSW, John William Kelly, has died at the age of 86 and with this death the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry has lost one of it's last post war heroes. In the beautiful rolling countryside of the southern slopes of NSW, between Boorowa and Cowra, John Kelly built a thoroughbred stud that was to become the equal of any in Australia. The concentration was on quality bloodstock and animal care and not on pretentious infrastructure. The results were outstanding both in the sales rings and on the track.

John Kelly served on the committees of the NSW Bloodhorse Breeders Association where he was Treasurer and also on the Australian Bloodhorse Breeders Association.

For most breeders, the memory of John Kelly is associated in two ways. Firstly he is remembered in connection with the two great stallions, Wilkes and Luskin Star which stood at Newhaven, although there were other great horses at the stud. Secondly, he is remembered sitting behind the auctioneer's right shoulder at the Inglis Sydney sales, always dressed in coat, collar, tie and clean boots, assessing every horse as it entered the ring and writing the price and comments in his catalogue.

In his later years, John Kelly suffered from ill health and was not often seen. I only knew John Kelly in the last 35 years of his life, having purchased several fillies from his drafts and later on Victory Prince by Imperial Prince who stood at Newhaven from the great Newhaven Valour family. After Victory prince had sired Tierce, which later went to stand at stud at Newhaven, John Kelly came and visited Victory Prince at Sutton Forest and we got to know each other better.

A full obituary will appear in the TBNSW Update and the web sites next month.

Rest eternal. And may light perpetual shine upon him.

Richard Turnley

President

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.

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