TRAINER PROFILES

JIM HOULAHAN

The legendary jumps trainer Jim Houlahan was born on 14 May 1913 in Bendigo, Victoria into a family interested in horses and horse racing. He was a successful building contractor until in 1970 at the age of 57 he decided to become a horse trainer, starting a training career when most people begin to plan their retirement.
It is believed that Houlahan was the owner of a moderate jumping horse at the time and offered the trainer some well meaning advise about his horse. The trainer did not take that very well und suggested that Jim Houlahan should train the horse himself since he knew so much about training. So he did and his horse won at its next start easily.
The Grand National Steeplechase with Strasbourg in 1977 was Jim Houlahan's first major win and the start to an unparalleled record in training horses for jumping races. He has also enjoyed success with flat racing on a smaller scale with a number of wins at Group level.
With the win of Fidel at Werribee in 2004 on the day of his 91st birthday Jim Houlahan probably became the oldest person to train a winner

Some Achievements:

- Grand National Steeple
- 6 Australian Hurdles
- 2 Australian Steeplechases
- 7 Grand National Hurdles
- 1 Grand National Steeplechase
- 4 A V Hiskens Steeplechases
- 4 Warnambool Grand Annual Steeplechases
- 3 Oakbank Great Eastern Steeplechases
- Goodwood Handicap
- some group level flat races
- probably the oldest person to train a winner
- indroductee to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame

Some winning horses trained:

- Bellarron
- Strasbourg
- Fidel