2025 Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees

Hydrogen (Horse)

A Dual Cox Plate winner, Hydrogen was a towering presence in the 1950s whose name became synonymous with toughness and true staying power.

Trained by Ted Hush, Hydrogen won 26 of his 60 starts and was Australia’s greatest prize money earner when he retired.

Hydrogen, a crowd favourite competed fiercely against the likes of Tulloch and truly cemented his name among the greats.

Etching his name in history, his legacy burns brightly more than half a century on.

The 1952 and 1953 Cox Plate winner champion is recognised as one of our most versatile thoroughbreds, winning anywhere from six furlongs to two miles, holding his own against the likes of Rising Fast, Delta and Dalray.

Mahogany (Horse)

Trained by the legendary Lee Freedman, Mahogany was undoubtedly one of the most gifted and consistent thoroughbreds to grace the Australian turf in the 1990s.

The galloper won 19 of his 44 starts, including eight Group 1s from 1000m to 2500m.

Capturing the Victoria Derby, the Australian and Queensland Derbies as a three-year-old, the remarkable treble stamped him as a classic star who went on to reinvent himself later in his career as a sprinter claiming victories in the Lightning Stakes and the George Ryder.

Mahogany sits in the top echelon of Australia's modern-day greats.

Peter Moody (Trainer)

Queensland’s own Peter Moody, the mastermind trainer behind Black Caviar and many more equine greats, has been celebrated for a career built on resilience and brilliance, carving a legacy as one of Australia’s greatest modern-day racing minds.

Hailing from Wyandra in the state’s west, Moody worked his way through the ranks, cutting his teeth as a stablehand with Tommy Smith at Radnwick.

Kicking off his training career in 1998, he went on to reach international stardom with Black Caviar – the undefeated winner of 25 races, including 15 at Group 1 level.

With 60 Group 1s and over 3,000 victories to his name, Moody has also guided many champions to greatness including his multiple Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy, Dissident and most recently, superstar stayer Incentivise.

Zac Purton (Jockey)

From country NSW to the Sunshine State and on to conquering the world in the saddle, Zac Purton is a fitting addition to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Growing up in Coffs Harbour, the hoop became apprenticed to Trevor Hardy at just 14 years old, riding his first winner at Armidale in 2000.

His first taste of success came in 2002/03 when he won his first Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership whilst still an apprentice, before reaching the pinnacle of Hong Kong racing where he has now amassed seven premiership titles.

From those humble beginnings, Purton has emerged as one of Australia's greatest ever jockeys, with nearly 2,800 winners so far including 47 at Group 1 level.

John Tapp (Associate)

In an illustrious career spanning over six decades in Australian racing, the iconic and much loved ‘voice of racing’ John Tapp OAM was inducted as one of the greats of the racing industry in the Associate category.

Tapp’s 33 years at the microphone and his rich contribution beyond race calling in his three decades-long media career has made him one of the greatest story tellers and historians of our generation.

Tappy, as he is affectionately known, was honoured for his enduring excellence, utmost dedication to his craft and his ability to bring the magic of racing into our homes.

Black Caviar (Legend)

Black Caviar, the sprinting powerhouse and undefeated winner of 25 races – including 15 at Group 1 level – was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. 

Her flawless career included two TJ Smith Stakes, three Lightning Stakes, two VRC Champion sprints and the mighty mare eclipsed it all with her 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

In a fitting coincidence, her master trainer Peter Moody was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same ceremony.

The mighty mare was a worthy recipient of 'Legend' status at this year’s Australian Racing Hall of Fame gala.

Winx (Legend)

Winx, in her breathtaking and herculean effort, won all of her last 33 races and in doing so, captured the hearts of the nation and beyond. 

Originally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, Winx won an extraordinary four Cox Plates, three Queen Elizabeth Stakes, four George Ryder Stakes and four Chipping Norton Stakes. 

Her CV also includes multiple victories in the Turnbull Stakes, the George Main Stakes, and the Winx Stakes named in her honour in 2018.

Her first Group 1 was the Queensland Oaks, and it is fitting that she was elevated to 'Legend' status at this year’s Australian Racing Hall of Fame gala in the Sunshine State.