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The racing industry is mourning the passing of former jockey, trainer and Canberra racing stalwart, Rodney de Smet, aged 72.

The Canberra-born horseman fulfilled a lifelong association with horses which he kickstarted as a successful apprentice jockey aged 16, in 1966 indentured to trainer John Edlington.

Rodney went on to become the leading apprentice and jockey concurrently in Canberra and the South East region, going on to outride his claim in just 10 months.

Rodney won the apprentice jockey premiership in 1966 and the jockeys' premiership in 1967 and one of his favourite horses was Dalyrus, winner of the Horse of the Year title in 1967.

Rodney had some stints away from the industry to fulfil National Service with the Australian Army and other trades such as butchery, however, his love of horses always drove him back to racing.

He trained numerous handy horses for the Bell Family including Red Nose (who later went to Theo Green and won the 1979 Canterbury Guineas), Come Back (TJ Smith) along with Stadium Star and Double Red.

When he couldn’t ride horses anymore, Rodney turned to stable work and float driving, working for Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary for several years up until his passing.

Rodney is survived by his daughters, Natalee and Fallon, and his grandson Caleb. Racing NSW extends its deepest condolences to Rodney’s family and many friends.

NOTE: Rodney’s funeral service will commence at 10.30am on Wednesday, 18th January 2023 at the Norwood Park Crematorium located at 65 Sandford St, Mitchell ACT 2911.

The funeral will be followed by a wake at The Top Pub, Hotel Queanbeyan at 59 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW from 12pm.

The funeral service will also be livestreamed through Tobin Brothers Funerals - visit this link https://tobinbrothers.com.au