THE Bathurst community and the state's harness racing industry are mourning the death of A.D. 'Tony' Turnbull at the age of 91.
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Mr Turnbull was a giant of the harness racing industry and was named a Bathurst Living Legend, a Harness Racing NSW Living Legend, a Harold Park Legend and a member of the NSW Hall of Champions for his contribution - and he definitely deserved the accolades that accompanied his name.
Mr Turnbull's son Steve Turnbull, also a champion driver-trainer in the industry, said his father was a hard-working, tough-as-nails man who lived by the advice: "You only get out of it what you put into it ... work hard, do your best."
Throughout his 60-year involvement with the harness racing industry Mr Turnbull became the first driver to win 2000 races, retiring with 2884 victories to his name.
Among those was a Miracle Mile victory and two Inter Dominion wins aboard Hondo Grattan in the 1970s, a champion horse in the harness racing industry and the best horse Mr Turnbull ever trained.
"When dad won the Inters [Inter Dominions] it was something you never forget. That is the ultimate thing, it was your dream," Steve said.
"We were all down there [at Sydney's Harold Park]. I think we got back about four or five in the morning. They were exciting times."
Bathurst held a mayoral reception outside the courthouse after Hondo Grattan's second Inter Dominion win, with thousands attending and wanting to catch a glimpse of the local champion.
Bathurst Harness Racing Club chief executive Danny Dwyer credits Mr Turnbull for the impact he had on the industry and the local club.
"As a club we have really benefited from A.D's profile in the industry and he put the club in a high position in terms of standing in the harness racing community," Mr Dwyer said.
"He's done so much and words probably can't describe what he's done for the sport and we have all benefited over the years."
Along with being the first trainer-driver to win consecutive Inter Dominions, Mr Turnbull's other successes included winning the Australian training premiership six times, winning the NSW training premiership eight times, winning 13 consecutive NSW driving premierships and, to cement his momentous role in Bathurst, he was the leading trainer and driver for more than 50 years at the local club.
Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke also expressed his gratitude for the champion reinsman.
He described Mr Turnbull as "an elite sportsman, a real Bathurstian [and] a great bloke".
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