Jack Brown rings in a victory after family tragedy

By Jordan Gerrans

The impressive first-up victory of Paleface Ringo at Dalby last Thursday afternoon meant so much more to the Brown family than just the $11,000 winner's prize purse on offer. 

Veteran Warwick trainer Jack Brown bred the grey galloper after racing his mother Suzy’s Rose. 

The gelding won at his second raceday appearance back in April of 2024 and has hardly been out of the money since in a handful or so efforts. 

But, between that first victory and his strong performance last Thursday to nab the second of his career, everything has changed for the horse and the Browns. 

Jack lost his beloved son Terry to suicide in September of last year which rocked his entire family. 

On the racing front, Paleface Ringo has battled several foot injuries that could have forced the promising three-year-old into early retirement. 

Jack says it would have been much easier for him to just chuck in his training career and walk away from the industry following the unexpected tragic passing of his son at 39 years of age. 

But, after seeing his stable star win on Thursday in his first run since September of last year, there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel. 

“If I am being honest, it has been a battle, but this horse has kept me going, personally,” the trainer said.

“It is a struggle, but this horse has given me hope. It is funny how a horse can help heal you.

“The horse gave me a reason to get out of bed. He has kept me going.

“We have had nothing good that has happened to us for a while before this horse came out and won.

“Terry is part of the inspiration for me want to do something because it would have been easy for me to give up, trust me.”

Terry was not involved with Jack’s team of horses, but his loss was a devastating blow for the Brown clan. 

Having been in the industry for many years in the Southern Downs region of Queensland, Jack once had around 35 horses on his Elbow Valley property, which has its own track and pool.

He has whittled that down to just half a dozen following his son’s death.

The 66-year-old notes the challenge it has been mentally for him to get going with the horses on a daily basis since his electrician son's sudden and tragic passing. 

“His death has really changed our lives,” he said.

“It has made me re-evaluate everything. Terry had the world at his feet, but he struggled with his issues.

“I just concentrate on my own horses now and have a couple in work. We just want to enjoy racing now and don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.”

Ridden by Darling Downs hoop Montanna Savva, Paleface Ringo started as the favourite on Thursday in a Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1000 metres and justified the punters' thoughts.

The grey had a couple of trials to get set for his return performance.

It was an enormous training effort to have the gelding score after so long off the racing scene with his injury battles.

Jack credited local veterinarian Britten Lockie for his tireless efforts to get Paleface Ringo back to the races after his numerous foot concerns. 

“It has been a long road,” he said.

“He has had a number of issues in one of his feet, it has been a nightmare. Our vet Britten Lockie, the great Norm Hilton – who does a bit of farrier work – and I have worked on the horse and it has taken so long.

“Britten deserves a lot of credit because we couldn’t hardly put a shoe on the horse at one stage, he could hardly walk, this horse.

“It was devastating. He is a terrific young vet.”

To celebrate last week’s win, Jack is going to take out the entire team that has anything to do with the horse over the last year to dinner to acknowledge their achievement.

He has a QTIS event at Ipswich next Wednesday already picked out for the grey and if he runs well there, Jack has his eyes on a city event later in July, as well.

“The horse should have won three or four straight last year as he was not beaten by far on several occasions,” he said.

“This horse is not finished yet, trust me. There is a lot of promise in this horse.

“Monty deserves a lot of credit as she has come out a few times to ride him in his work and gets on well with him.”

Paleface Ringo’s grandmother Suzy Grey won the 2003 Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich.