'Macka' with 'Lenny' following a win at Harold Park.
HARNESS racing and rugby league lost one of its favourite sons last Tuesday with the passing of former trainer-driver and rugby league stalwart John McMartin, aged 73, after a long battle with cancer.
Well known amongst his peers as ‘Macka’, the former Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels hooker played 92 games for Cronulla (1976-79) after having previously racked up 167 appearances for the Eels (1967-75).
He also played one game for New South Wales in 1975 and was an integral member of the Cronulla team that made its way through to the Grand Final in 1978.
Following the drawn Grand Final, he was ruled out by injury in the midweek replay loss to Manly. He was a Life Member of the NSWRL.
John’s other great passion was harness racing.
A successful trainer and driver and breeder, John had a lot of enjoyment racing his beloved pacer ‘Lenny’, better known as Gotashotaway who won 22 races and earned just shy of $160,000 in prizemoney.
Gotashotaway, a sire of one winner before being gelded, was John’s last winner as a trainer-driver on October 6, 2011.
John had success with many other horses having trained 70 winners including the trotter Krysta who won the Franco/Australian Trotters Final at Harold Park in 2005 with John in the sulky.
A funeral for John will be held on Wednesday (February 21) at the Allan Drew Heritage Chapel, Castle Hill, commencing at 10.00am.
Harness Racing New South Wales extends sincere condolences to John’s wife Kathy, family and friends.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
AMANDA RANDO | MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
(02) 9722 6600 • arando@hrnsw.com.au • @Amanda_Rando
