Frank Cleary was born in Canberra and raised in Queanbeyan. He is a proud Queanbeyan horse trainer of renown having trained almost 2000 individual winners in his 41 years of racing.
Most notably he was the first local trainer to win the Gold Coast Magic Millions and the Magic Millions 2yo Classic before winning the prestigious Black Opal (G2) with “Clan O’Sullivan” in 1992. Clan O’Sullivan also won the Todman Stakes (G2) before running second in the Golden Slipper. His racing career stretched over 20 starts, winning 9 and amassing $1,786,858 in prize money.
In 1999, Frank became the only trainer to have won the Black Opal/ Golden Slipper double with “Catbird”. “Catbird” won 5 of his 14 starts and $1,755,670 in prize money.
Many of Frank’s other horses also competed at the highest level. “Wayne’s Bid” won the Group 1
“Select Prince” had 41 starts for 9 wins the best being the 1989 Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick along with the Group 3 Missile and the Listed Baillieu Stakes.
“Friends Venture” began his career with a 1990 Queanbeyan Maiden ridden by local racing media celebrity John Scorse. Both horse and rider went on to greater things. In 1994 Frank trained 6 winners at the annual Forbes Cup Day. He still holds the record at that course.
Frank still lists his biggest thrill in racing as winning his hometown cup in 2009 when Bomber Command took out the Queanbeyan Cup. Frank has a loyal group of owners and at the same time trains a small string of horses from his Queanbeyan Stables.
Frank has won nine Queanbeyan Racing Club training premierships and three South east Racing Association premierships.
RACING
Born: 16 July 1948
Inducted: 2013
Associate Member