The Australian Turf Club has moved to rename a race on Warwick Farm’s flagship Chipping Norton Stakes race day during its Autumn Carnival in honour of one of Australia’s greatest trainers, Guy Walter.
The Club has applied to the Australian Pattern Committee to rename the Wiggle Stakes the Guy Walter Stakes, with the request to be passed on to the Australian Racing Board for final approval in coming weeks.
The Guy Walter Stakes would be run in early March at Warwick Farm, the track that Guy Walter and his wife Wendy called home since late 1984 before Guy passed away suddenly in May this year.
The race is a Group 3 $150,000 set weights and penalties event for 4YO Mares and Upwards, a breed and age of horse that Guy Walter excelled at training, with some of his most famous Group One winners in recent years including Streama, Appearance, Wild Iris and Spinning Hill.
The Guy Walter Stakes would be an important lead up a fortnight before one of the country’s most prestigious Group One races for fillies and mares, the $600,000 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said the Club wanted to acknowledge one of Sydney’s greatest trainers on a day that Guy Walter himself treasured.
The horse that Guy rated his all-time best, Tie The Knot, won four consecutive Chipping Norton Stakes, including three at his home track at Warwick Farm.
Mr Pearce yesterday also presented Wendy Walter with an Associate Membership of The Australian Turf Club at a private function for a host of Warwick Farm trainers and staff.
“Guy was not only an incredibly skilled horseman, but an ornament to Sydney racing and was recognised by all as a true gentleman of the turf,” Mr Pearce said. “