PARKES HARNESS RACING CLUB
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL
PARKES HARNESS RACING CLUB
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL
The Keith Thomson Memorial is in its 12th year of running this December 2021. The Thomson family sponsors the race in Keith's honor by making the condition for horses that are trained within 125km of Parkes, something that was close to Keith's heart to support local trainers.
Keith Thomson was not born into harness racing but after leaving school at age 12 to help support his widowed mother, he got his first job delivering bread by horse & sulky around the Granville area in Sydney, and his love of horses began.
Along his delivery route he came in contact with several trotting trainers and he was hooked by the sport.
Keith Started a horse transport business after his marriage to June and that took him from far North Queensland to Victoria. He also trained a few pacers at the same time.
In 1972, Keith & June decided to head west with their family and settled in Manildra. With them came Keith's pride & joy, a beautiful black stallion named Waitakian, and while he was no champion on the race track, his looks certainly were admired.
Although fame and fortune from harness racing eluded Keith, he was considered one of the true characters of the sport and he did train his share of winners including Portellis Gift, Irata Boy, Glendon Miss, Spell Me, Brehanna Kate to name a few.
On February 15, 2008, whilst track working one of his horses on the Parkes Showground, Keith had a bad fall that left him a quadraplegic. He spent months in Sydneys Royal North Shore Hospital. When doctors gave an approval for Keith to return to Parkes, the Harness Racing community held a fundraising dinner to help support the Thomson family with on going costs for treatment and travel.
After Keith's accident, local trainers helped out the family by looking after & training the horses. Wendy Turnbull and Brett Hutchings were the major contributors.
Keith's wife June and their 5 children have never forgot the help and generosity of the Parkes Harness Racing Club people and by running this race each year not only pays tribute to Keith but says thank you for everything people have done for them.
Keith passed away 2 April 2010.
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2021
5 December 2021
winner: SURFING SEASON
driver: Emma Turnbull
trainer: Lynette Freeman
owners: K Freeman, L Freeman
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2020
26 January 2020
winner: SPORTY MICKILLA
driver: Mark Hewitt
trainer: Mark Hewitt
owners: M Hunter, A Johnstone
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2018
26 January 2018
winner: MICKEY RAMONE
driver: Mat Rue
trainer: Pat Jones
owners: L E Jones, R P Jones
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2016
26 January 2016
winner: KARINYA GUS
driver: Emma Turnbull
trainer: Gary Eyre
owners: G Eyre, T/A/G/C Quade, R Parsons, I Alewood
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2014
26 January 2014
winner: NATURAL ART
driver: Monique Parsons
trainer: Monique Parsons
owners: Shannon Rye
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2021
26 January 2021
winner: POPPY FRANCO
driver: Andrew Cassell
trainer: Andrew Cassell
owners: Bradley Scott
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2019
26 January 2019
winner: POCKET BEAUTY
driver: Stephen Dowton
trainer: Stephen Dowton
owners: Alison Dowton
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2017
26 January 2017
winner: NOT MY SISTE
driver: Murray Sullivan
trainer: Jason Gaffney
owners: Lex Crosby
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2015
26 January 2015
winner: MAX IS BACK
driver: David Harris
trainer: Estate of David Cecil Harris
owners: Belinda Harris
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2013
20 January 2013
winner: BATTLELINER
driver: David Harris
trainer: Estate of David Cecil Harris
owners: R Harris, Estate of D C Harris
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2012
18 April 2012
winner: KARINYA MAT
driver: Gary Eyre
trainer: Gary Eyre
owners: G Eyre, T Quade, C Quade, M Clayton
KEITH THOMSON MEMORIAL 2011
08 April 2011
winner: HOW SWEET THOU ART
driver: Ashlee Grives
trainer: Phillip O'Farrell
owners: D Ford, C Ford
