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Racing NSW has been informed of the passing of Dubbo trainer, Mr Allan Gibson at the age of 78, following a short battle with cancer.

Sydney-reared Allan Gibson first became interested in racing through Brian Thomas who was an uncle of Allan’s wife Eileen Gibson.

Brian Thomas was an apprentice jockey with Fred Hood and later became a trainer at Canterbury.

Grey Reflection trained by Brian Thomas and with Allan Gibson a part-owner, won at Randwick and twice at Rosehill when ridden by the late Norm Munsie.

After becoming a licenced trainer, Allan usually had about seven horses in work at his Rossmore stables at Warwick Farm and among his best gallopers was Island Joe which was sired by Jumpin’ Joseph, and also Northern Realm.

The Allan Gibson-trained Island Joe won at Royal Randwick with Peter Cook as the jockey, at Canterbury when ridden by Sammy Mezzasalma and at Warwick Farm Racecourse with Neil Campton in the saddle.

In 1988, Allan moved to Dubbo and with his trade as a gas fitter established Western Gas Service, a business which he retired from in 2019.

As a trainer at Dubbo he put the polish on several good gallopers, one of the earlier ones to come to mind being The Sawbones with winning jockeys on that horse including Fred Walker, Andy Lordan and Billy Aspros.

Recently under his care were talented performers Podium Bound (five wins), California Fox (four wins at Dubbo including the 2020 Winter Country Classic), Cowboys Karma (eight wins including the Dubbo and Orange Cup Preludes) and Alaskan Aura (three wins).

Allan had a winning double at Dubbo on May 22 of this year with Zurbaran and Alaska Aura.  He was renowned for getting his horses very fit and they usually raced near the lead and produced plenty of fight in a close finish, with Ken Dunbar the regular jockey.             - Col Hodges

FOOTNOTE: Allan Gibson's friend, Gavin Edwards, said Cowboys Karma was his recent flag bearer: "Allan's stable will be represented by two runners today at Dubbo - Zurbaran (Race 5) and Alaskan Aura (Race 7).

"His son Ashley is looking to take over the stable and has applied for his trainer's licence.

"Allan is survived by his wife, a former top equestrian and coach, and son Ashley. Allan was just a bloody good bloke," he added.