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By Gary Harley

Two of Newcastle and Wine Country’s retired Thoroughbred trainers have passed away recently.

Mr Jim ‘Bubby’ Johnstone, a very successful Group 1-winning trainer in the golden days of Newcastle racing, passed away in February.

Razor Sharp was Jim's best horse winning two Group 1 VRC Newmarkets and three Carrington Stakes. Salaam was a brilliant sprinter with wins in The Galaxy, Missile and Premier Stakes.

And Hot As Hell won The Shorts and June Stakes while Flaming Hot captured the Carrington Stakes.

Robert ‘Puddy’ Davies, a former Cessnock trainer, passed away on March 4 after a struggle with health issues in recent months.

Davies entered racing as an apprentice jockey indentured to then Cessnock trainer Albert Stapleford.

He trained on the Cessnock track for more than 45 years and lived with his wife Sandra on Racecourse Road beside the Cessnock Racecourse.

Davies was 80 years of age and he trained his last runner in 2019.

Leading Country trainer Cody Morgan was apprenticed to ‘Puddy’ at one stage at Cessnock along with top Newcastle rider Alan Robinson who rode 2,275 winners.

Newcastle Jockey Club will honour Mr Davies with a race carrying his name at Newcastle on Thursday 9th March.

Mr Davies leaves behind wife Sandra, son Rodney and twin daughters Kelly and Kim.

NOTE: A funeral service for Mr Davies will be held from 1pm on Monday, 13th March 2023 at Cessnock Racecourse.