Tony McEvoy’s legacy as one of South Australia’s premier horsemen has been officially cemented, with the Cox Plate-winning trainer set to be inducted into the South Australian Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame next month.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in McEvoy’s more than 50-year journey in the racing industry. Celebrated sports broadcaster and Hall of Fame selection panelist Bruce McAvaney praised the 64-year-old for his enduring excellence and impact on the sport.
“Tony’s the epitome of a high-class horse trainer: talented, patient, ambitious, and always optimistic,” McAvaney said. “His 16 Group 1 wins include five achieved alongside his son Calvin. His standout horses include the Cox Plate hero Fields Of Omagh and the brilliant filly Sunlight.”
McEvoy joins an esteemed list of South Australian racing legends, including his nephew Kerrin McEvoy, mentor Colin Hayes, and contemporary David Hayes. Remarkably, Tony McEvoy has earned Group 1 victories both as a jockey and a trainer — a rare feat in Australian racing.
“That Group 1 win as a jockey came nearly 50 years ago and was, by coincidence, in the same race — the SA Oaks — that he later won as a trainer with Larrocha at Morphettville,” McAvaney added.
A six-time Adelaide metropolitan premiership winner, McEvoy entered into a training partnership with his son Calvin in 2019. In 2022, the duo relocated their operation from Angaston to Ballarat.
Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden lauded McEvoy’s contributions to South Australian racing.
“The South Australian Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is the highest honour for racing identities in this state, and Tony continues to fly the flag proudly,” Bawden said. “From his early days in Streaky Bay to showcasing the Barossa Valley, he’s a proud South Australian who has influenced countless careers in the sport.”
