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The racing industry is mourning the loss of long time Northern Rivers stalwart and former Mid North Coast racing administrator Alan Ninness who passed away this week at age 84.

Alan was initially a dairy farmer and timber mill owner but with an economic downturn in the mid 1970’s he commenced his career in racing as a race day steward with the then Central and Lower Coast Racing Association (now Mid North Coast Racing Association) to supplement his income, remembering at that time country racing was usually conducted on Saturdays and public holidays.

Alan’s position in racing moved to a full time role a couple of years later when he was appointed as Secretary of the Central and Lower Coast Racing Association under the chairmanship of the late Ivan Livermore OAM.

Under the guidance of the pair that association became one of the first to embrace mid week TAB covered racing which saw racing in the region go from strength to strength.

In addition to his role as secretary of the association Alan was also appointed as handicapper for all race meetings in the region and continued to work as a race day steward from time to time.

Alan moved on from full time racing administration in the late 1980’s but later took up the position of secretary of the Wauchope Jockey Club.

Until illness curtailed his travel in recent years Alan was a regular at race meetings in the mid north coast and was a regular at the Grafton Cup Carnival.

Alan’s love of the racing game was passed on to one of his children with Paul a well known face at Coffs Harbour track who has raced a number of horses over the years and continues to help local trainer Brett Bellamy on race day.