Manzelmann clan honours Gingers legacy

By Jordan Gerrans

Jockeys wore black arm bands to honour the late John 'Ginger' Manzelmann on Friday at Mackay with Ginger’s grandson chuffed to train a winner on the program. 

Ginger was a long-time harness man in the ‘Sugar City’ before turning his hand to owning gallopers his son John prepared. 

The respected Ginger passed away earlier this month with the Mackay Turf Club recognising his contribution to both codes on Friday afternoon.

Jockeys wore black arm bands across the eight events while the fourth race on the program was named the Vale John ‘Ginger’ Manzelmann Maiden Handicap.

While Ginger’s grandson Lachie couldn’t win the race named in his late Pop’s honour, he was glad to see Divine Okay land the prize in the last race ahead of a Brisbane trip for the galloper. 

Lachie’s Mayor Of Kingston ran third in the Vale John ‘Ginger’ Manzelmann Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres. 

Like his late grandfather, Lachie also cut his teeth in the harness code before switching his attention to the gallopers. 

He has recently taken over his father John’s barn and has 40 in work in Central Queensland. 

While devastated to lose his Pop, Lachie says he will be able to carry on his legacy in racing after enjoying more than two decades absorbing knowledge from the man widely known as Ginger for his bright red hair in his youth. 

“It was a big loss, losing Pop,” Lachie said.

“He had been around forever; I grew up pretty much living with my Grandma and Pop because my Dad was off at the races or working and my Mum worked full-time at a school as a teacher.

“Grandma and my Pop looked after me and a lot of my cousins for lots of days. We spent forever at their place.

“I try and look at it in a positive way, I am 26 years old and had my Pop around my whole life, it is sad, but I got a lot of time with him.”

The voice of racing in Central Queensland Russell Leonard paid tribute to Ginger before the opening event on Friday from the Ooralea track. 

“Ginger and his son John had a great association as an owner and trainer with a lot of gallopers over the years here in Queensland,” the veteran broadcaster said.

“He was the late and great John ‘Ginger’ Manzelmann.”

Ginger and the Manzelmann clan were a force in the harness code in CQ before they turned their attention to thoroughbred racing.

Lachie has followed a similar path in the sport. 

He trained and drove at a high level in South East Queensland in his early years.

Lachie was a Group 1-winning reinsman and competed in the time-honoured Miracle Mile as a teenager.

Ginger made the trip down to watch Lachie drive in the Miracle Mile back in 2019 and even in the months before his death he was enthralled by watching Leap To Fame replays with his grandson.

“He was still interested in the trots and followed it right until the end,” Lachie said.

“When I started there, he had a big interest in my driving. It was a passion of his throughout his entire life.”

Racing broadcaster and administrator Rob Luck has had a close association with the Manzelmann clan as an owner for many years. 

“The legend and legacy of Ginger has been and will continue to be passed on through John’s achievements and contributions to country racing,” Luck said.

“And, now, through Lachie, who is going forward in his training career.

“Ginger contributed so much to racing across Queensland and he will be dearly missed.”

Divine Okay is bound for the Country Cups Challenge decider after winning the Cloncurry heat in the middle of October. 

The seven-year-old gelding showed he would be competitive in the city early next month by winning an Open Handicap over 1300 metres on Friday.

“The horse is racing super,” Lachie said.

“We went out to Cloncurry to make sure we got that ticket and Adam Sewell came out there for us and rode him a treat.

“He won super comfortable that day in Cloncurry and he won well again at Mackay the other day.

“The only downfall of that Mackay win is that we may get a bit more weight for the Final in Brisbane, but we will see what happens.

“He is good enough to carry the weight anyway; he is in super form at the moment.”

Lachie has raced horses in the metropolitan area earlier in his career, but this will be the first time he has travelled a horse south for a rich country series. 

Lachie’s father John has been a constant in series’ such as the CCC and Battle of the Bush over the years.

John won the BOTB prize in 2024 with Tiger Legend. 

Ginger’s funeral will be held on Tuesday of next week in Mackay with Lachie heading off for the CCC decider in the days following.