Successful Trainer and Media Personality
Albert Jordan was good for racing in every way. He ran a large modern stable, trained hundreds of winners and was a constant promoter of the racing industry. He drew people to the races. Albert Jordan was a good communicator and a showman.
After fishing at Rottnest Island around 1950, Albert Jordan met Charles Atkins. They became close friends and Atkins helped Jordan set up stables on a property by the river in Redcliffe with more than 90 acres. Called Tibradden, the property had white posts and rail yards, a training track and excellent paddocks, well ahead of its time for its design, accommodation and size. Tibradden was also known for Jordan’s hospitality. He trained horses there for more than twenty years, welcomed visitors and topped the winning trainers’ list six times.
A keen fisherman, Jordan had a favourite boat called Maniana, after which he named his favourite horse. As a three year old filly, Maniana won the Railway Stakes, an unusual feat even today and it went on to win races around Australia. With other horses Jordan won Perth Cups, WA Oaks, WA Guineas, Sires’ Produce Stakes, Kalgoorlie Cups and almost every major race.
Albert Jordan’s popularity grew. He spoke on the radio regularly through the 1960s and 70s and appeared on television racing panel shows. He ran tipping sessions at Belmont Park and Ascot every Saturday, so popular that there was standing room only. “It’s so important to promote your industry,” he once said. “I saw myself as an ambassador for WA racing on my frequent interstate trips with gallopers in the 50s and 60s.” In 1986 he was voted WA Racing Personality of Year.
The Goldfields
Jordan began his training career in the goldfields in the 1930s. “We walked nine gallopers from Leonora to a Wiluna meeting,” Jordan said. “The horses were rested when it became hot around 8am and the trip took six days. None of them won and we had to eat galah on the walk home.”