Regional racing icon to be farewelled

By Jordan Gerrans

Revered country racing identity Brian Lenihan called Kumbia home throughout his decades in the industry, but his presence was felt well outside of the boundaries of the South Burnett region.

The former jockey and long-time club president at Kumbia passed away earlier this month after a long illness.

He was 82 years of age.

The respected Lenihan is set to be farewelled this Friday.

The track at Kumbia was his pride and joy but he travelled far and wide to be connected to the industry.

He was a regular at the races at venues such as the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Kilcoy, Roma and Jandowae as well as several other tracks.

Kumbia Race Club secretary Myolene Kearney recalls being told by a regular racegoer in the area that they wouldn’t start the local races until Lenihan lobbed on course.  

“Many race clubs throughout Queensland hold a “special seat” for Brian on their race day,” Kearney said.

“Brian touched the lives of thousands of people both in the racing industry and through his famous butcher shop in Bell St, Kumbia.”

Nanango Race Club president Wayne Hancock regarded Lenihan as a ‘second father’ as he knew his parents and grandparents before taking him under his wing.

In recent years, they would head to the races together in every direction from their home base.

“Whenever I suggested to him that I wanted to go to the races, he would say he will come to the races any day of the week and would even sit in the horse float if he had to,” Hancock said.

“He knew that many people at the track and his memory was so good, remembering horses, people and everything.

“It was amazing the way he would walk away at the track for a few minutes and go find someone from years ago that gave him a tip.”

Lenihan was the local butcher and was referred to as an icon in the area for his around six decades of service in the role.

He grew up around the industry with his father Mick a successful hoop.

Lenihan was the president for over 40 years at the Kumbia Race Club before stepping down in September of 2023.

Kearney has taken on the lion's share of responsibility at the Kumbia club as secretary in recent years.

“He had a big friendly smile, warm, genuine heart and mammoth community spirit - donating meat trays, sausages for many a fundraiser throughout the years,” Kearney said.

“His memory was incredible with people also.  

“He’d know who you were before you even entered the butcher shop or he’d quickly work out who you were, who your parents were with a few friendly questions.

“He was a true community spirited person; he was part of all the different clubs around the place. He was so generous.”

Brian’s old brother Jim was a breeder and trainer of racehorses as well before his death in 2015 in his mid-70s.

Jim trained his own team up until 2007.

The Kumbia Race Club ran a Jim Lenihan Memorial race in November of that year.

The Glenn Richardson-prepared Lucks In – who Brian owned shares in – won the race.

It was one of his most poignant memories of his time in the racing industry.

“He had an incredible memory when it came to horses - he could list off all of the Melbourne Cup winners and the year,” Kearney said.

“There wasn’t a day that went by that Brian wasn’t thinking about or watching or listening to the races.

“He was a larrikin, very jovial, likeable and loved telling stories and yarning.

“He was very much loved – I have had people ringing me since his passing and telling me stories about him from over the years.”

Kumbia Race Club is known locally as “the iconic Flemington of the bush” as they race once a year on Melbourne Cup day.

Following his passing, the club will name the betting ring at Kumbia after Lenihan as a permanent memorial.

“He really supported battlers,” Hancock said.

“As a butcher in the butcher shop, if someone came in and said they didn’t have enough money or whatever, he would always give them a good deal or just tell them to pay him whenever they could.

“If someone was going through hard times, he could always look after them.

“He was a kind-hearted person.”

Lenihan’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Albert St, Kingaroy on Friday, May 23 at 1:30pm.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Lenihan family.