Nanango Race Club to honour industry pioneer

By Jordan Gerrans

In a racing life that paved the way for generations of females in the Sunshine State, Kaye Hill was known for her humble nature.

She never shouted from the rooftops that she was the first female to be licenced as a strapper with the Queensland Turf Club back in 1964.

In 2025, and following Kaye’s tireless efforts, the ladies outnumber the men in many stables when it comes to strappers, trackwork riders and apprentice jockeys.

The revered Kaye sadly passed away earlier this year at 75 years of age.

Kaye was a pioneer of the racing industry in Queensland and she was able to go out on top as she trained a winner in the days before her sad passing.

While she was humble during her life, Kaye’s husband Paul is ensuring that he is not modest about her achievements ahead of a special race day in her honour.

She made her name as a trainer in recent years, but it was a young Kaye Nichols who created headlines and broke ground for females in racing back in the 1960s.

The Nanango Race Club on Saturday will host the Kaye Hill memorial race day and a galloper she prepared before her death will run in the opening event.

“She paved the way for so many other women and people like Australia's first female jockey Pam O'Neill followed her into these kinds of jobs,” Paul said.

“She achieved a lot in her lifetime and was so humble. Kaye didn’t want the recognition when she was alive, but she is getting it now.”

Once Kaye was registered as a strapper all those years ago, she eventually progressed to training her own team of gallopers. 

The dedicated horsewoman was always listed as the trainer, but her husband Paul was working away to help out the stable. 

Following Kaye’s passing, Paul has decided to take out his own training licence to continue on his late wife’s legacy. 

It was not an easy choice for the 76-year-old to stay in the racing industry after losing his beloved wife that he had been side-by-side with since they were teenagers. 

“It was a very tough decision to keep training because Kaye and I grew up as kids together when we were only 14 and 15 years of age,” Paul said.

“She was working for her father when I met her and we married only a few years after we met. We have been together all these years.

“While Kaye has trained in recent years, I was always in the background doing the dirty work at the stables and she did everything else.

“I am just following what Kaye did with her horses and her ideas these days as she was a very, very good horsewoman.”

Since the horses have transferred into Paul’s name, he has had one starter with Prince Of Diamonds running third at Dalby last month.

From his Nanango base, Paul is preparing two gallopers - Prince Of Diamonds and the unraced Master Ned.

Master Ned heads to the track for the first time on Saturday in the Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.

Master Ned will be ridden by apprentice Kayla Johnston.

The young Sunshine Coast-based rider provided Kaye her last winner in late February before her passing.

Kaye began her extensive and important racing journey in Brisbane before training in Gympie and most recently at Nanango before her death.

The Nanango Race Club’s committee is looking forward to honouring one of their greatest local industry participants on Saturday.

"From becoming the first female strapper licenced by the Queensland Turf Club in the 1960s to training over 200 winners, she broke ground for women in the sport and supported countless young jockeys along the way," club committee member Zac Dennien said.

"Kaye's final winner at Gatton, with a young apprentice in the saddle, captured everything Kaye stood for - a love of the sport and a commitment to helping others succeed.

“At the request of Kaye's family, who have generously sponsored the day, we are proud to hold this memorial meet in her honour – a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman whose legacy will always be part of Nanango and Queensland racing.”

Paul was effusive in his praise for what the Nanango Race Club is doing to celebrate Kaye’s life on Saturday.

The Kaye Hill Memorial Open Handicap will be run over 1000 metres as the fourth race on the program.

Before the fourth event is run and won, the Hill family are hopeful they have started the day on a positive note with Master Ned.

The three-year-old gelding has not had a public trial before his maiden assignment, but Paul is hopeful he will run a big race, noting that Master Ned will ‘try hard’.

During her lengthy career in the industry, Kaye was widely known for giving female riders an opportunity, which is highlighted by Johnston providing her the last winner before her death.

At her home stables at Nanango, just before her death, she was preparing another young lady to get to the races.

Keen trackwork rider Mickey Ashley-Forsythe was helping the Hills with their horses.

The 22-year-old has stayed on to aid Paul following Kaye’s passing.

It will be fitting to see Master Ned start on Saturday at Kaye’s home track with Ashley-Forsythe watching on.

“She is a very good kid,” Paul said of Ashley-Forsythe. 

“Kaye bought Master Ned especially for her to get her back riding.

“That is one of the reasons I have pushed on with the kid because Kaye wanted to back her – she deserves a chance.

“Kaye started so many young girls over the years, it is unbelievable.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the kid, she does a great job and helps me with all my bookwork for the stable and things for our social media, as well.”

According to Racing.com’s statistics, Kaye prepared 200 winners dating back to 1994.

The majority of those came on the country and provincial circuit in Queensland but she did prepare one winner at city level in both Sydney and Brisbane.

Between the 1997-98 and 2000-01 campaigns, Kaye collected more than 20 winners each season.