TRIBUTES FLOW FOR MAGIC MILLIONS WINNING TRAINER
MAGIC Millions winning trainer Neville ‘Nifty’ Layt has died after a short battle with illness, aged 76.
The much-loved horseman passed away quietly at Canberra Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Based out of Queanbeyan, Layt trained for close to four decades and was well known as one of the sport’s great characters. He was thrust onto
the national stage when star filly Karuta Queen gave the trainer his biggest win by running away with the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in 2011.
The Not A Single Doubt filly also delivered Layt his maiden Group 3 success when winning the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes at The Valley in the same year as well as the Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill.
Layt continued to train up until his
passing and had his last winner in January when Propose A Toast scored at Canberra.
Tributes flowed across social media for the veteran horseman who was described as a “true racing man”, “great bloke” and a “weight-for-age racing character”.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys announced on Wednesday that Saturday’s Highway Handicap event would be named in his honour.
“Neville was a hardworking trainer and a real character who was extremely popular and highly respected throughout our industry,” V’landys said. Jockeys will wear black armbands at Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting while the opening event at Canberra on Friday has also been named in memory of Layt.
The funeral will be held at Norwood Park Crematorium Chapel on Friday, April 30 at 1.30pm.