A gathering of family and friends were at the Berrigan graveside, earlier this week, to pay their final respects to the late Bert Honeychurch, aged 94.

Bert was almost an institution in his own right, a very competent horse trainer, he averaged a winner a week from the time he commenced training at Berrigan in 1946, until the time he retired in 1983.

He commenced training alongside his best mate, Brian Courtney, at Mentone, before a stint at Bendigo; finally he planted his roots in Berrigan that is where he remained.

Berrigan became a thriving racing centre, several fellow trainers followed Bert’s lead and others applied for licences, regular trials were held there every couple of weeks.

He never left the Riverina, except for those periodical trips to Melbourne when he thought he had the right horse to win a race down there.

Bert’s method of training was keeping horses happy and relaxed, he usually had around 40 in work at one time, after morning track work they were all fed in separate yards and remained there until it was time to box them in the evening.

He was a success story, yet success never changed him, he won 14 Southern Districts Racing Association training premierships and trained over 3,000 winners.  

His biggest thrill in racing was short lived when Petard won the St Leger at Flemington, only to lose it on protest to King Cobbler, trained by Phil Burke.