Tributes pour in for a vibrant racing stalwart
NORTH Queensland racing identity Rob Koch is being remembered as a passionate advocate for the horse racing industry and for his “vibrant personality”.
The local businessman, horse owner and long-time racing follower died on Sunday and close friends have this week recalled Koch’s efforts to boost the racing industry across FNQ during his life.
Koch was a Cairns Cup winner as an owner.
But, he was not just focused on his own horses, as he was the driving force behind the creation and ongoing growth of the Magic Millions Up and Coming Stayers Series since its creation in 2014.
As well as offering his time to be the Far North Queensland Racing Association Secretary.
Atherton Turf Club’s Don Scheffler first met Koch at a racetrack in 2008 and described his close friend as a “great syndicator of horses” that brought a lot of different people into racing, who previously had no involvement in the game.
“He was always so passionate about his racing and he had a vibrant personality,” Scheffler said.
“Racing was really his life. “We had a number of horses together, we have not had a lot of success lately (laughs) but in years past we had some very good horses.”
The stayer’s series is likely to become his legacy to the region and Greg Irvine, from Magic Millions, says Koch was more than a contact he knew through racing, but a close mate.
Koch was a regular down at Magic Millions sales trying to find his next turf champion.
“He was a loyal friend of many of our staff and the great relationships we hold with so many in the Far North Queensland racing family is in many cases down to Rob’s enthusiasm and support,” Irvine said.
“Rob was a regular visitor to our sales on the Gold Coast and during those visits made great friendships with so many of our team and our other clients – such was his genuine warmth.”
The Far North Queensland Up and Coming Stayers Series has been added to the list of sports events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement released by Racing Queensland said a number of clubs that take part in the series, which runs from April to July, have advised that their race meeting will not be conducted this year.
This, together with the uncertainty and limitations imposed under the current conditions, ensured there was no alternative other than to cancel the series for this year.
Many hope the popular series is back in 2021.
Irvine, who travels around Australia to different race tracks for his job, recalled first meeting Rob and his wife Jane over 14 years ago at Cannon Park.
“During my first visit to Cairns in 2006 I quickly became friends with Rob and Jane and that year when I was there for the carnival they part owned the Cup winner Superblitz,” Irvine said.
“I have many shirts in my wardrobe from Man Overboard and I will wear them with great pride and at those times will always remember my wonderful mate Rob.
“My thoughts are with my dear friend Jane and her family at this time.”
Mike Mills, a north Queensland racing photographer, who is always a smiling face at Cannon, Cluden or Pease Park, developed a longlasting friendship with Koch through the track.
“I knew him totally through racing and Rob and Jane realised I was coming to Cairns alone for work from Townsville and they started inviting me over for dinner and our friendship snowballed from there,” Mills said.
“They would do the same and stay at our house in Townsville and we did a number of overseas trips together. “He was a fun guy.”
Cairns Jockey Club general manager John Cameron described Koch as a “great person”.
“He did some amazing things helping the Cairns Jockey Club,” Cameron said.
“Rob had a number of contacts that opened up a few doors for us, which helped the local industry significantly.”
Koch is survived by his wife Jane and his Sydney-based son Robert.