Athol Strong
Athol Strong was born at Alstonville in New South Wales. The love of horses was nurtured by his family’s Irish heritage. As a teenager, Athol purchased ponies from the Lismore saleyards and resold them for a small profit.
It was in the field of thoroughbred racing and trading that Athol established his lifetime commitment and national reputation for excellence. In modern times no individual owner has traded in greater numbers. In 1945, Athol and eight drovers walked 106 racehorses from Maitland to Brisbane - a distance of 640 kilometres. They travelled the stock routes, and urged the weary Thoroughbreds over the Story Bridge to stables in the Brisbane’s racing suburb of Hendra. One of those horses, Marchotti, became a wartime star at Albion Park.
Athol Strong developed a thriving business, which endured for generations. He bought 50 yearlings a year from sales throughout Australia and New Zealand. The horses were broken in and educated and then offered for sale at auctions that were held six times a year. A premier trainer, Athol’s two-year olds dominated Queensland racing and many great Australian racehorses began their careers under his guidance. They included the dual Epsom Handicap winner Toi Port, Doomben Cup winners Dream and Qualeta, and Tosha, a winner of 17 races. Well-bred fillies became foundation mares for the Queensland Thoroughbred breeding industry and Mr Strong also established Stradbroke Stud in NSW.
Athol and Doris Strong’s family followed in Athol’s footsteps, with sons Jim, Neil, Daryl and Athol Jnr. all becoming respected members of the Queensland racing fraternity. Their daughter Lynette now lives in New Zealand.