3 minute read

Tasmanian racing lost one of its biggest fans last week when West Australian businessman and prolific horse owner Wayne Notman succumbed to an ongoing illness.

In Brief

• Wayne Notman invested in local racing.
• Count De Vinci great horse to start his Tasmanian racing journey
• Mission accomplished with Hobart Cup win.

Notman became involved in racing horses in Tasmania when he purchased a gelding from New Zealand that raced as Count da Vinci.

The former kiwi won a class one handicap in Launceston at its first start for premier Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton and Notman backed the horse in from $12 to $4 with the windfall from the victory almost recovering the horse's purchase price.

Count da Vinci won the class one handicap in mid-October 2016 and just four months later jockey David Pires guided the then five-year-old to victory in the Group 3 Hobart Cup, but along the way he also won the Brighton Cup which was a race that meant so much to Notman as he was raised in the area.

It was the start of a wonderful Tasmanian journey for Notman and his wife Mignon who became regulars at race meetings in the state.

He also never missed traveling to Victoria to see Count da Vinci compete and he cherished the gelding's win in the 2017 Moe Cup.

Lord da Vinci was another that delivered the goods for Notman winning at his first four starts in Tasmania and he went on to become a gallant weight-for-age performer and held a special place in Notman's heart.

During his Tasmanian experience Notman also grew close to Pires who he treated like a son.

He was forced to reduce his involvement in ownership and travelled less because of his illness but his memory will live on through the feats of Count da Vinci and relationships with many Tasmanian industry participants and this writer who regarded him as a friend.

Notman, 82, was highly regarded as a businessman in Western Australia, but few knew that he was born and raised in Tasmania and yearned to one day race horses in the state and hopefully win a Hobart Cup – mission accomplished.

Notman is survived by his wife Mignon, and children Nick and Samantha.

He will be laid to rest at a private service in Perth (WA) on Thursday.

Watch Count da Vinci win the 2017 Group 3 Hobart Cup.