John H. Ingham
Encyclopedia
John Horace Ingham AO (10 June 19285 August 2003) was a leading Australia
n businessman and co-founder of the largest Thoroughbred
horse racing
and breeding operation in Australia.
Always known as "Jack," he was born in Casula, New South Wales
, the son of farmer Walter Ingham. On his father's death in 1953, he and younger brother Bob took over Ingham Enterprises Pty Limited, a small family-run poultry
breeding business founded in 1918. The brothers built the company into the largest producer of chicken
s and turkey
s in Australia. Now headquartered in the Sydney
suburb of Liverpool
, the operation has annual sales of more than $1.5 billion and a workforce in excess of six thousand people. At the time of his death in 2003, Jack Ingham was Joint Managing Director of the company.
, an Epsom Derby
winner and Champion broodmare sire
. The Ingham brothers used Valiant Rose to begin building what became a $250 million breeding and racing operation, the largest in Australia. Their equine empire includes Woodlands Stud at Denman, New South Wales
in the Hunter Valley and Crown Lodge racing stables at Warwick Farm Racecourse
in Sydney
and Carbine Lodge racing stables at Flemington Racecourse
in Melbourne
, plus racing stables in Adelaide
and Brisbane
.
The most famous of the Inghams' successful horses was Octagonal
, the 1996 Australian Horse of the Year and a winner of multiple Group One
races including the Cox Plate
and the Australian Derby.
In recognition of his contributions to the economy of Australia, Jack Ingham was honored by his government as an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia
. A long-time member of the executive committee of the Australian Jockey Club
, in 2004 he was inducted posthumously to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
.
In 2003, at age seventy-five, Jack Ingham died at Westmead Hospital in Sydney after a long struggle with leukemia
.
Jack Ingham was married three times and had five children.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businessman and co-founder of the largest Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and breeding operation in Australia.
Always known as "Jack," he was born in Casula, New South Wales
Casula, New South Wales
Casula is a suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Casula is located 35 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Liverpool....
, the son of farmer Walter Ingham. On his father's death in 1953, he and younger brother Bob took over Ingham Enterprises Pty Limited, a small family-run poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
breeding business founded in 1918. The brothers built the company into the largest producer of chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
s and turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
s in Australia. Now headquartered in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Liverpool
Liverpool, New South Wales
Liverpool is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool is located 32 km south-west of the Sydney central business district, and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Liverpool...
, the operation has annual sales of more than $1.5 billion and a workforce in excess of six thousand people. At the time of his death in 2003, Jack Ingham was Joint Managing Director of the company.
Thoroughbred horse racing
Jack Ingham's father had had an interest in breeding horses and in addition to the poultry business, the brothers also inherited a broodmare named Valiant Rose. The mare was a descendant of the great British racehorse Bend OrBend Or
Bend Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden....
, an Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner and Champion broodmare sire
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
. The Ingham brothers used Valiant Rose to begin building what became a $250 million breeding and racing operation, the largest in Australia. Their equine empire includes Woodlands Stud at Denman, New South Wales
Denman, New South Wales
Denman is a small rural town in New South Wales, Australia, in Muswellbrook Shire. The town is located on the Golden Highway in the Upper Hunter Valley region, about 250 km north of Sydney...
in the Hunter Valley and Crown Lodge racing stables at Warwick Farm Racecourse
Warwick Farm Racecourse
Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Carbine Lodge racing stables at Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, plus racing stables in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
The most famous of the Inghams' successful horses was Octagonal
Octagonal
Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained...
, the 1996 Australian Horse of the Year and a winner of multiple Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
races including the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
and the Australian Derby.
In recognition of his contributions to the economy of Australia, Jack Ingham was honored by his government as an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
. A long-time member of the executive committee of the Australian Jockey Club
Australian Jockey Club
The Australian Jockey Club was founded in January 1842. It morphed from the former Australian Racing Committee set up in May 1840 to set the standards for racing in the colony...
, in 2004 he was inducted posthumously to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is part of the Australian Racing Museum which documents and honours the horseracing legends of Australia. The museum officially opened in 1981 and created the Hall of Fame in 2000....
.
In 2003, at age seventy-five, Jack Ingham died at Westmead Hospital in Sydney after a long struggle with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.
Jack Ingham was married three times and had five children.