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PLEASE NOTE: A Celebration of Charlie's life will be held from 2:30pm on Monday, 13th January 2025 at Reflections Chapel, 36A Glendale Drive, Glendale.

It is with great sadness to report that one of the last of the old-time trainers from Broeadow Racecourse in Charles Patrick Porter, has ed away aged 89.

Charlie as he was affectionately known was already a well-established boutique trainer when I first moved to Newcastle in 1985. Training from his base in Glebe Road he was then training for Ken and Pauline Easter.

Charlie had several very smart horses under his care in those years; Wimbledon, Palazam, Elroy, and Framoli to name just a few.

The late Mr Charlie Porter. Image courtesy JohnTapp.racing

I have clear recollections of Framoli winning at Randwick at 50/1 and later going on to win a Scone Cup at the old White Park under the guidence of Kevin Ring and of Palazam ploughing through the mud to secure a Quirindi Cup.

Those wins of course coming in the years when a win in country feature was something every good trainer wanted on his CV. Looking back in was an amazing achievement from his small team.

Around that time Charlie had an apprentice under his guidance Ken Noble, who rode under Charlie throughout his apprenticeship with good success and later rode as senior jockey based at Broeadow.

Then in later life turned his hand to training before injury forced him from the game. I also recall Geoff Challen, Stewie Plain, Robert Thompson and Neville Shorten all having success for the stable in those years.

Charlie had a unique ability to keep horses sound and racing consistently throughout long careers, for example Framoli had 98 starts for 17 wins and Elroy 97 starts for 10 wins.

This unusual skill was never lost on Charlie as one of the final two horses he trained, My Artie, raced on 80 occasions for 10 wins and as they say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Overall, Charlie was a true gentleman of the Australian turf, I can honestly say I can never recall having a cross word with him despite my stewarding position in those years.

Charlie in my view was the ultimate professional and I have always held him in very high regard. Charlie Porter RIP racing is undoubtedly a poorer industry for your ing.

- Michael Beattie (CEO, Clarence River Jockey Club)