Overview

Gai Waterhouse has one of the most captivating stories in Australian sport. Her early working life centred around modelling and acting, but as the daughter of legendary trainer Tommy Smith racing was in her blood, and she began working for her father at his stables. She married Rob Waterhouse, son of the famous bookmaker 'Big' Bill Waterhouse, bringing together two of Australia's most successful racing dynasties. Yet it was a marriage that also initially prevented her from getting her own trainer's licence, given that Rob had been banned from race courses in the wake of the Fine Cotton betting scandal. For years Gai fought the racing establishment to receive her licence, finally winning the battle in 1992. Almost immediately she won her first Group 1 race, and never looked back. She's gone on to become one of Australia's greatest trainers, winning over one hundred Group 1 races, and finally the pinnacle of the sport - the Melbourne Cup - in 2013, becoming the first Australian woman to do so. Along the way she's brought some much needed glamour and fun back into racing, creating a cult following among both owners and punters. Full of energy, passion and drive for success, Gai's life has been a lesson in perseverance, hard work, determination and flair. Now for the first time she tells the full story of her remarkable life.

Full Product Details

9781925266047

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Gabriel Marie 'Gai' Waterhouse (nee Smith; born 2 September 1954) is an Australian horse trainer and businesswoman. After graduating from the University of New South Wales, she worked as an actor for a time, appearing in both Australian and English television series. Having worked under her father, TJ Smith, for a period of 15 years, Waterhouse was granted an Australian Jockey Club licence in 1992, and trained her first Group One winner later that year. In 1994, after her father became ill, she took over his Tulloch Lodge stable, and she has since trained over 100 G1 winners and won seven Sydney trainers' premierships. She was also the trainer of Fiorente, the winner of the 2013 Melbourne Cup, becoming the second woman (and first Australian woman) to train a winner of that race. Waterhouse was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2007, and has been described as the 'first lady of Australian racing'.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available