Inghams Enterprises - Thoroughbred Horses

Thoroughbred Horses

The Ingham name is also synonymous with horses. The Inghams passion for horseracing began during the days they’d spend with Walter Ingham at the race tracks. Along with the poultry business, the Jack and Bob Ingham also inherited Valiant Rose, which was a descendent broodmare of a champion British racehorse. In the 1960s, they began building their thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operations. This passion became the largest thoroughbred dynasty in Australia until Bob sold the entire operation in 2008.

Key events during these years included Bob Ingham purchasing his first two trotters in 1965. By 1970, Bob and Jack were the biggest trotting owners in Australia; and had 650 race wins by 31 July 1974.

In the late 1990s, the Ingham's most widely-known thoroughbred horse, Octagonal, became a household name with 28 starts, 24 wins, 7 seconds and 1 third placement resulting in nearly A$6 million in earnings. In 1995-1996, it was voted Australian Champion Three Year Old and Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year.

During 2004 and 2005, Lonhro, son of Octagonal, had 35 starts with 26 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds, earning nearly the same amount as his father.

In 2008, divesting themselves of the equine interests, Dubai’s Sheikh bought Inghams’ thoroughbred horse breeding business, incorporating it into the Darley Stud.