Country racing stalwart Alan Smith celebrated with Lifetime Achievement Award

When Alan Smith’s father Kevin – a three-time Pingrup Cup-winning trainer – let his son skip school to strap a soon-to-be winner at the Bunbury Turf Club, Alan caught the racing bug and his love for the sport never stopped.

Now with more than 50 years' involvement in the industry, Alan’s contribution to racing was recognised last Friday when he received the Country Racing Association Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by RWWA, at the Country Racing Association’s 2024-25 Awards.

“It’s very humbling and an honour to receive the award – it’s nice to be recognised for what’s gone on over the past 50 years,” Alan told Racing WA.

“I just love sport and racing in general, I’ve always been very committed to it my whole life.”

Alan attributes the honour to his involvement at the Pingrup Race Club for the better part of half a century, filling several roles including secretary, treasurer, vice president and president.

“I’ve always been seriously involved in making sure the Pingrup Cup goes ahead and keeping our little town ticking in that regard,” he said.

His affiliation with the Pingrup Cup doesn’t end there, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps who are all three-time winners of the annual country cup.

“I’ve been involved all my life, my father and grandfather were both trainers,” Alan said.

“I was strapping horses and riding trackwork when I was 11 for my father and I can still remember the successes he had.”

Now the President of the Albany Racing Club, Alan’s commitment to regional racing still shines through in his tireless support of country clubs and the people involved in them.

“I want to continue to keep country racing going, keep it alive and racing in the communities because it provides so many opportunities for people,” he said.

“My dad had a saying ‘you put yourself in the best company possible and your horse in the worst’ so the buzz from travelling to these towns to get your horse a win, it’s all well worth it.

“We’re getting very good crowds at country meetings these days and there’s a lot of support from RWWA.

“I think most of the country clubs have never been in a better position than they are now days.”

Alan now trains a small team of thoroughbreds in Albany, keeping his passion in the sport and the race club well and truly alive.

“I’ve been a committed person to the Pingrup Race Club and now I’ve moved to Albany to help out,” he said.

“Racing is a community, it’s a good community and the people involved are just great in general.”