Vale, Les Young

Media Release - Friday November 22

The committee of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW along with the breeding and racing industry together mourn the passing of legendary bloodstock agent and fellow committeeman Les Young, found deceased at his home.

Les rose from humble beginnings, by dint of his own hard work and his encyclopaedic knowledge of thoroughbred pedigrees to become an industry leader in many areas.

From running his own sales company, to managing the Sydney premiership winning combination of Bob Lapointe, Robert Sangster and Brian Mayfield-Smith which under the Nebo Lodge banner finally ended Tommy Smith’s 33 year reign as champion trainer, to being an intelligent and influential voice in both owners' and breeders' associations, to being a successful owner breeder, Les Young could do it all.

He also made a lasting contribution to thoroughbred breeding literature with his long running “Breeders’ World” column in Sportsman and as a regular contributor to Bluebloods magazine and other leading industry publications. Les also penned the essays on eight stallions for the epic reference Great Thoroughbred Sires Of The World, his knowledge and erudition always shone in his work.

Among Les Young’s many talents was the ability to encourage young people in a new career or a new venture, he made time for the breeder with a single mare just as he did for the high rollers.

He was hugely influential in the careers of some of the greats of the Australian turf such as Emancipation and Snippets, but even more influential in the many friends he made and people he mentored.

Among his many honours, fittingly the most recent Les was awarded life membership of NSW Thoroughbred Breeders at the opening Broodmare sale of the new Inglis Riverside complex, no one deserved that honour more than Les.

A member of the NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Association for nearly 60 years, his knowledge and dedicated passion for the Thoroughbred will always be remembered.

Sad News from TBNSW