Charlie Prow named as inaugural Hall of Fame winner

Humble yet highly gifted, Charlie, has little more to prove in the racing industry, but at the age of 77 he continues to train a small string of horses from his Blackall property, Glenora. 

Charlie was named inaugural Hall of Fame winner at the presentation of awards held by the country racing Facebook live streaming page On the Bit, sponsored by Racing Queensland. 

More than 200 guests from all parts of Queensland packed in to the Emerald Town Hall to enjoy the evening and celebrate.

The very generous and unassuming Charlie accepted the award surrounded by his wife Gail and family members.

Initially, Charlie was lost for words, but managed to say he felt honoured to be recognised before so many peers.

“It is just so unexpected, and no-one in the family has told me much about this event, and I have been kept in the dark,” Charlie said. 

“I really would like to share this honour with my family,  those who I train horses for, my many helpers, and friends.

Charlie has been around horses since he was five, and started riding as an amateur jockey when he was 15, while working for Blackall trainer, the late Tom Austin.

Charlie has enjoyed a career spanning more than 60 years as an amateur jockey, professional jockey, horse trainer, horse breeder, and master to apprentice jockeys.

Statistics provided by Queensland Racing from 2000 to the present show Charlie has started 3268 runners in the central west.

He has enjoyed 431 winners, 450 seconds, and 473 thirds. 

Until recently Charlie has had between 14 and 30 horses in work, and clocked up about 50,000km traveling north to McKinlay, south to Cunnamulla, east to Emerald, and south west to Birdsville.

These days Charlie has scaled back the number of horses after selling his Blackall-based stables last year.