A Truly Run Race: tribute to John O’Neil

The passing of John O’Neil (87) on January 26, after a short illness, saw the end to a man whose career in South Australian racing commenced on another Australia Day, in 1949.

He was Adelaide Racing’s voice to Western Australia and local punters hung off every word of his golden tones during Saturday morning previews and race meeting broadcasts.

Born in the Great Depression-in 1930- during the ill-fated Scullin Labor Government’s term, the man described as a ‘Christian gentleman,’ commenced his race calling 19 years later at Barmera Trotting Club after becoming interested in racing while a Christian Brothers College student.

Although from a non-racing family a chance meeting with 5DN race caller Matt Hynes led to that early opportunity to call a race for the Riverland station, 5RM.

Paralleling his pursuit of a being a race-caller O’Neil also had a 43 year career in SA Railways until his retirement in 1991.

In 1951 he called his first thoroughbred fixture at the Moorook-Kingston racecourse, which started his racing career advancement to the point where, a decade later, he took over from the man who had brought him into the 5DN news service, Matt Fitzpatrick.

His career as a race caller would stretch until his retirement in 1995. But it was not the end of his involvement with SA Racing. He continued as course announcer until two years ago.

In between he extended his media portfolio to television previews every Saturday morning with the Ten network and then later adding a review of the day’s meeting with the ABC.

In later years he also was the host of racing tours to the Northern Territory and Tasmania where his knowledge and affable nature was invaluable as a tour guide.

Over his long career O’Neil called 27 Adelaide Cups and the same number of Great Eastern Steeplechases.

In 1961 he called Tulloch breaking the 100,000 pounds barrier ($200,000) for prize money, when the champion won at Cheltenham, a fabulous sum in that era.

Indeed, prior to his passing, Adelaide’s finest was the last of the broadcasters who had called the great equine champion of Tommy Smith.

Ernie Manning, ‘the ‘Father of the House,’ in WA’s racing press box, described O’Neil as follows: “John was thoroughly professional and had a meticulous approach in ensuring he knew the facts accurately. His commentaries were crystal clear and he called all horses’ positions that was invaluable to radio listeners, in pre-Sky television days.”

“Some of his fellow race callers, such as John Russell, were highly colourful characters but John O’Neil was always level headed in both calling and in racing publications. He stood the test of time, writing for hallowed form guide Best Bets for over 30 years. He was seldom, if ever, questioned on his form comments.”

“As regards to WA he was something of a roving ambassador for Perth racing and allied himself with Marjorie Charleson, the long serving public relations officer of the WA Turf Club (now Perth Racing), to promote our carnivals.

Two of our biggest supporters in the 1970s were great trainers Bart Cummings and Colin Hayes, both Adelaide based and John spoke to them frequently. John Hawkes was another trainer he encouraged to come here. His efforts reinforced Marjorie’s determination to make Perth summer racing a showcase.”

Marjorie Charleson, echoed Manning’s comments.

Labelled ‘that woman from Perth,’ by some NSW critics who disliked the WA female trail blazer for her work in enticing the connections of quality gallopers to WA racing carnivals, Charleson had many dealings with O’Neil.

“I got on extremely well with John. He was calling for the ABC and he introduced me to key people like legendary trainer, Colin Hayes and leading stud breeders. He made it easy for me to get around the traps, whereas in other states some others determined to make it hard. “

She said O’Neil was in the top half a dozen callers in her racing lifetime. “He wrote for my magazine, Racebreed, and was an ornament to racing who thoroughly deserved his OAM and Hall of Fame recognition.”Those two awards referred to, came in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

“I always looked forward to finishing my Eastern States tours in Adelaide because of him,” Charleson said.

He also had a great sense of humour and could recount many stories. In the mid 1980’s Adelaide afternoon newspaper writer Mike Duffy sent a story saying the winner was the first horse to win a feature event in three consecutive seasons since ‘the mighty War Abandoned had achieved that great feat in 1941-42-43!’ Duffy had just arrived, from England, where he had been chief crime reporter but was placed on the racing staff. Duffy relied heavily on race book information from the winners honour roll and his story duly appeared in the first edition of the paper.

Ernie Manning said it that it provided great mirth but also concern amongst fellow racing writers.

“John O’Neil was among those who decided it must be corrected and the story was fixed for the final edition. It saved a lot of credibility for Mike and the newspaper. Mike went back to England to cover murder stories,” Manning recalled.

His willingness to help, encourage and assist people stemmed from his strong Christian faith.

That led him to be founding member of the Adelaide racing fraternity Mass committee which held its first meeting in 1964. Since then there has been a racing Mass held every year on the weekend of the Adelaide Cup.

“He was a person who lived the Gospel message,” according to Father Joe Giacobbe, who met O’Neil in 1979 and presided at his funeral mass. “John was warm, welcoming with a non-judgmental, positive disposition to life and people……so while his physical presence is no longer with us the memories of his values and good times remain with us,” he said.

That observation also summed up O’Neil’s attitude to people touring Adelaide and he was quick to using visiting racing writers, including myself, on his Saturday morning radio race program that he had conducted on Adelaide Coast FM, since 2001.

South Australia’s Christian gentleman is missed.

O’Neil is survived by his wife Laureen (Lauri), children Kevin and Sharyn and grandchildren Edward, Alexandra and William.

John O’Neil –born August 19, 1930, (North Adelaide Memorial Hospital) died January 26, 2018 (Calvary Wakefield Hospital, Adelaide)

(a slightly edited version of this obituary appeared in THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (9/8/18, page 49)