Stalwarts hope for Jackpot win
HUSBAND and wife George and Diane Mills would be among the most accommodating horse owners in the racing industry.
The couple have bred and raced hundreds of thoroughbreds over three decades and revealed their Tamborine stud farm formed the inspiration behind the development of the iconic Bearded Dragon Hotel.
One of the sharpest talents to come through the Mills operation, Jackpot Jay, is the $3.20 favourite for today’s QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast, the scene of his last-start victory.
A win would be timely for Diane, 68, and George, 74, who celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary on Monday.
Diane, who lives in Southport with George, revealed her love of racing came from father Doug Johns, a former miner who bought multiple horses while the family were living in Mount Isa.
But after losing both Doug to bowel cancer and mother Betty to a tragic accident within the space of 24 months almost 40 years ago, Diane decided to continue racing her father’s horses.
“We had about five of them and towards the end Dad started to sell them but I said not to sell them as we would keep them going,” Diane said.
“I was only in my 20s at the time but I used to go to the races with Dad and he showed me how to punt.”
Diane said 1985 Ipswich Cup winner Ballyman’s Boy, who also ran in a Caulfield Cup, has been their best while they have raced many of his progeny.
The family has been involved in the ownership and management of pubs for a long time but Diane said they never intended to build the Bearded Dragon when they bought a stud farm on the property over 30 years ago where they still spell their horses.
“We had a property at Ashmore and needed more land so we bought a stud at Tamborine,” Diane said.
“We didn’t think about the hotel at the time. We were out there working one day and I was saying to George how long you had to go for a beer and nowhere to go if you were hungry or tired and don’t feel like cooking.
“So I went from being lazy to building a pub 22 years ago.”
The Mills also discovered a natural spring under their land, something that has come in handy during periods of drought.