L.J (Laurie) RobinsonHarness & Greyhounds

JayJay

The great L.J left the room late this afternoon after over 94 very fruitful years dedicated to Harness Racing. Adjudged by many to be the best farrier in the land, a very, very astute trainer of a small team, possibly the best free lance driver in the state for many decades, I think legend is a very appropriate term for him. Formed lasting relationships with Bob Clausen, Les Mourbey and Harry Bele and produced dozens and dozens of winners for them.

For those interested, I will put together some career highlights later on in the week. A childhood hero of mine and many others on the bus home from school each day, trying to work out win or place for our 5 bob on one of L.J's.

shothru

Lovely man. RIP

Jasper

RIP Condolences to family.

JayJay

It is pretty hard to thumbnail a life that begun on November 16th, 1929 as the first of 10 siblings, and that ended on August 5th, 2024, nearly 95 years later, in a short paragraph or two. 

Living "way out" in Osborne Park, riding a horse, the pacer Pirate Prince for the Pozzi family at age 7 around an old sand track, having Italian neighbors introduce you to "ding sausage" and pasta,  riding a bike on plank roads, going to school at Osborne Park Primary, remembering the beginning of World War 2, then to Technical College to study blacksmithing and then finally working as a Farrier at the kindly Jack Moffat's shop in Leederville, shoeing primarily coach horses, working horses and a few pacers. At 19 years of age, he took over Jack's shop in Carr Street after Jack retired with asthma and a dynasty of shoeing pacers began. There was to be none better as he provided corrective shoeing to countless "hopeless cases" in order to "get them going" for appreciative trainers. The breed was nowhere near as well gaited as it is today.

With no vehicle, married and the first of the kids arriving, it was an 8km bike ride to Leederville from Vic Park each day and the same mode of transport, with tools in a sugar bag, was used to ride to Redcliffe to shoe horses for Ken James, Joff Wall and Len Dickson....and then ride home to Basinghall Street in Vic Park. Saving up for the first car, a 1934 Pontiac straight 8 tourer, enabled the two day trip to Yelbini once a month to shoe pacers for Les Mourbey and Bob Clausen, the start of a very fruitful relationship with both farmer/breeders. A drivers license (car) would be obtained some 3 years later whilst doing his Saturday job, shoeing the Mounted Police Horses out at Herdsman Parade in Wembley.

Driving his first winner, Chic Prince in October 1947, the 1950's were good times with the eventual shift to Station Street Cannington and the acquisition of top horses Blue Bob and Lucky Ben, both prominent feature race and open class Free For All winners. In 1957 an August Cup win on Beau Corse, a WA Derby win on Beau Travis for Joe Petricevich whilst still driving good winners for his Dad, L.B "Pop" Robinson (Emu Downs, Tiny Pirate etc) and numerous other free lance winners saw his reputation as an ace driver cemented. He was in high demand by top trainers and accompanied Sprkling Pilade to the 1964 Melbourne Showground Interdominions and then on January 1st, 1965, he drove Hycraft for Phil Coulson to win the WA Pacing Cup. Trainers such as Coulson, Lindau, Tom Charles etc did not put you on unless you were top shelf and as driver, Laurie was the coolest, calmest and best of his time. Any horse, any place, any time. A 2nd in the Pacing Cup on Lord Mina in 1966 enabled a Coulson Quinella with Color Glo winning. Color Glo was a mare that Laurie drove many times for Coulson, including in the 1967 Interdominion Final won by Binshaw.

In 1966, the wins of Negro (for Tom Charles) in the Northam Cup and the great Kolworth (Bob Kay) in the Easter Cup were accompanied by plenty of winners from his own stable as the fantastic connection with breeder Harry Bele and the stallion Admiral Way started to gather momentum. There was also a strong connect with Ivan and George Tiller up at Kellerberrin and many other  rural famer/breeders out in the regions, including Bob Clausen and Corio Queen, one of the best "bread and butter" horses ever. Snowbird (dam of Haddock), Light Paree (dam of Andy Todd) and John Silver got the ball rolling. A very nice outside horse, Dark Rauen, won a string of races and outside drives on Ausanna (dam of Anna's Ann), Sir Alex and Alfa Scott for Tom Charles and many others provided great success. A short foray into training gallopers also eventuated with Raconplete winning metro races before it was back to the trots. 

Coolup Way, from Harry Bele's broodmare of the year Wilvetta (dam of Coolup Way, Placid Way, Each Way, Yelta etc) won 12 races in the 1970/71 season, Fast Rate won the Oaks and later almost a WA Cup after winning two heat and then Interdominion (1974) heat winner Haddock came along, a horse that L.J rated as his best. In quick succession, Rennell, Each Way and Placid Way all made their mark whilst he continued to sort out "problem child" horse like Bill Prentice's Paiute Neptune and Iron Ore, both beneficiaries of corrective shoeing and gearing. He continued breeding horses all the while and Redeemer King was probably his last classy little horse for him and great friend John Barnett, bred from a Harry Bele mare.

Laurie drove his last winner, Mount Lesuer, for trainer Merv Stockden on October 4th, 1986. he had stints as head of the (then) Reinsman's school, a stipendiary steward and he also piloted the dual seated sulky at Gloucester Park giving patrons the experience of a lap of the track, donating his remuneration to the Princess Margaret Hospital. He had a bit of a connection with royalty, having met the Queen when driving good mate Les Poyser's mare Ala Moana into 2nd place in the  $35,000 Queen Elizabeth Cup back in 1977.

Following his "retirement"....he never really retired....he was always available with shoeing advice, freely dispensing his wisdom and knowledge with his trademark smile to all comers. No matter your station in life, he helped everyone. Your address, family connection or status in the Industry meant nothing to him. To sit down and chat with him at Pinjarra on a Monday, listen to his stories along with a dose of self deprecating humour thrown in for good measure was a great privilege. He was a great man, lead a great and successful life of hard work and was straight down the line, a no bull dust approach in an era when the sport was at peaks that the younger players of today could not remotely imagine and he will be terribly missed by generations of the sports past followers. Time for a rest L.J., you have done very well. Hopefully, some of the older posters on here will recall some of what I have written.

JayJay

Whoops, have cut the great man off a bit short. Forgot about his cameo return to race driving in the mid 90's, last driving success was with Smashing Rate on April 8th 1996. Rookie error.
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JayJay

Was a great privilege to attend Laurie's service yesterday, along with many hundreds of others, including a fine representation of Perth Turf Talkers.

L.J clearly made a huge impression on many people, and the stories and associations across all walks of the industry and with his family,  were evident for all to see.