Evergreen trainer Dixie a deserved life member

Passionate country racing identity Dixie Solly has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the industry he has served for so many years, awarded life membership of the Albany Racing Club.

Awarded to Solly in front of family and friends at Albany’s race meeting on Boxing Day, the life membership badge came as a shock to the long-time horse trainer and administrator.

A big advocate for racing in the country areas in the last few decades, Solly spent 23 years as the Country Racing Association president.

His training accolades include winning a Fitzpatrick Plate feature race, multiple metropolitan victories and success in Mt Barker’s Mungrup Stud Sprint.

In 2008 his star galloper Noble Steed won the listed Cyril Flower Stakes.

Solly said he owed the life membership honour to the many great people he had worked alongside over many years.

“It’s a great honour and as I said on the day when you receive something like this you’ve got to pay tribute to those that you’ve been with in your racing life,” Solly said.

“These things can’t be achieved without the support of so many great people both in the Country Racing Association and in Albany.

“I won’t be remembered for the number of Group 1 races I’ve won but I’ve been involved in the administration side of things for as long as I can remember and hopefully somewhere along the line I have made a difference.

Despite turning 80 last year, Solly said he was not ready to retire from training his beloved thoroughbreds just yet.

“Once you hit 80 you are octogenarian,” he said.

“Which should mean a silly old bastard that is long out of the game by now. Every year now is a bonus but hopefully I have a season or two left in me and can put a few more wins on the board before I hang up the boots.”

Solly is the president of the recently formed Great Southern Trainers and Owners and said helping the push to get Racing and Wagering WA was one of the highlights in the administration side of things.

“I never held a committee position in Albany as I always thought it was a conflict of interest,” he said.

“I was president of (what was)then known as Great Southern Racing Association which involved Albany, Mt Barker, Kojinup, Pingrup and Narrogin for 10 years.

“I was part of the Country Racing Association that went to the government of the day and requested a review of racing, to look at the way administration was being handled.

“Seventeen years down the track look at what RWWA has brought to the industry.

“I don’t wear my life membership badges, I don’t like to promote these things because so many other people deserve this but it means a lot to me and the numerous people that have called to congratulate me.”

Leading Albany trainer and long-time friend, Steve Wolfe said Solly is an outstanding racing person.

“Dixie has been a great advocate for country racing over a long period of time,” Wolfe said.

“He has been pro the Great Southern area and the preservation of the industry here and throughout WA.

“Blokes like him put their heart and soul into the game and he is a deserving life member.”