Jack Holt (trainer)


Michael "Jack" Holt was an Australian horse trainer and philanthropist. Popularly known as the "Wizard of Mordialloc", Holt headed the Victorian trainers' premiership at least twelve times.

History

Holt was born in Berwick, Victoria, a younger son of Michael Holt and his wife Mary Holt, née Corkery. He may have been christened "Michael" but called himself "Jackson", invariably shortened to "Jack". He lived with his two spinster sisters in the suburb of Mordialloc.
He first trained horses at Berwick, Victoria, and won his first race, the 1911 Standish Handicap, with his own mare, Carette.
Some of his more notable wins were:
Other horses he trained were: Avenger, Beau Fils, David, El Ray, Gallantic, Hyperion, Idea, King Pan, Man at Arms, Metellus, Radiant Lady, Royal Joker, Sailing Home, Sir Ibex, Smoke Bomb, Studio and Victorian King. His jockeys included Frank Dempsey, Theo Lewis and W. Duncan.
Holt was a devoted Catholic. When he died he was accorded a Requiem Mass at his local church, St. Brigid's, Mordialloc, to which he had been a faithful and generous adherent. His remains were interred in the Berwick Cemetery.

Recognition

Holt was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.

Benefactions

Holt's estate was valued at something over £100,000, and most it was willed to charitable institutions:
"Jack Holt" has been used in Australian rhyming slang as a synonym for "salt".

Family

Michael Holt was married to Mary Holt, who was born in County Cork.