The harness racing community is mourning the loss of Michael Hayes, a trots trainer and driver who reached great heights with the likes of Skye Rocket amid 217 driving and 156 training wins.
Mr Hayes, who at age 65 passed suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday night, reached many highs in the sulky, including guiding trotter Skye Rocket to Vicbred Super Series and Victoria Trotters Oaks wins.
He also steered Pride Of Hilary to 14 consecutive wins for trainer Tom Inverarity, plus a Sires Classic win and a Victoria Breeders Plate at Moonee Valley. They were among 1672 career driving starts that produced 217 wins, 188 second and 180 third placings.
While Mr Hayes last drove in the 2005-06 season, he continued to train until September 2018, having had 1494 career starters since his first in the 1980-81 season.
In addition to Skye Rocket, a winner of 13 of 60 starts, he also trained Tippedintoomuch to win the 2009 Raider Stakes Final at Devonport, when it was driven by Ricky Duggan. He finished with 156 wins, 184 seconds and 179 thirds.
Mr Hayes is survived by his daughters Emma and Kathryn and sister Trish.
Harness Racing Victoria extends its condolences to Mr Hayes’ family and friends.
Funeral details:
A funeral will be held at St Malachy’s Church Nagambie at 363 High St, Nagambie from 11.30am on Tuesday, June 29.
A live stream of the service can be watched from clicking THIS LINK.
Scribe Len Baker has added the following on Mr Hayes:
Michael’s first connection with horses was helping Peter Ward with a milk round in Maidstone as a 15-year-old.
He also worked with Les Turner out of the Melbourne Showgrounds before venturing to Queensland and joining leading trainer Kevin Thomas, spending a long and successful time in the sunshine state.
Returning to Victoria, he was associated with Kilmore and Yarra Glen trainer Trevor Spry as well as several other trainers, driving numerous winner before branching out on his own with a small but handy team.
He was also an excellent horse breaker, working from a property owned by Frank Jessop north of the divide. He supplemented his income by doing some shoeing around the Kilmore/Avenel/Nagambie and Goulburn Valley.
I had known Michael for a great number of years and would always have a chat to him at the races should he have a runner. He will be sadly missed.