Vale Colin Watts

Colin Watts.

The Harness Racing NSW Board and Management pass on their deepest condolences to the family and many friends following the sad passing of Colin Watts OAM on Tuesday.

Colin, aged 97, gave a lifelong dedication to our sport and for that, in 2020 was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Colin was the son of one of Australia’s harness racing pioneers in JD ‘Jack’ Watts and followed his father’s love of the sport.

A trained accountant, harness racing was deep in Colin’s veins and at the age of 24 drove his first winner. That was in 1950 behind the mare Bogan Queen at Harold Park, not too long after night trotting started at that track.

“Dad was one of the best drivers in Australia and loved race driving right up until the moment he was suddenly too old. He wanted to drive all the horses which left me with few opportunities,” Colin recalled in an interview with John Tapp.

However, the opportunities came for Colin and after driving throughout Sydney’s show circuit and becoming an established trainer and driver in his own right, Colin partnered his father’s horse Yamamoto to victory in the 1966 Inter Dominion Trotters’ Grand Final at Harold Park.

He was associated with many top horses over the years including Te Kanarama, a 12-time winner, Step Outside and stated some of his other “favourite” horses were Oligarch, Trunkey Wish and Gloomy Lass, to name a few.

Colin was also a dedicated administrator as well and was associated with Fairfield Harness Racing Club for more than 60 years including Club President for 14 of those years.

He was also instrumental in the creation of the J.D. Watts Memorial first run in 1976 and received a Distinguished Service Award from the Australian Harness Racing Council and a Living Legend Award from Harness Racing NSW.

Colin retired from driving in his 70s and handed the reins over to his son Graeme Watts whilst still training. He retired from the training ranks in the 2001/02 season at the age of 74 with Step Outside his last winner at Bankstown on September 1, 2001.

Colin and his late wife Shirley had four sons – John, Michael, Colin Jnr and Graeme.

Colin, a legend of our sport, will be sadly missed and may he rest in eternal peace.

Funeral details will be shared once they become available.