The family trio of Keith, Denise and Dan Ballard have been a mainstay of North West racing for many years with countless winners between them.
At 68-years-old Dad Keith is still saddling up for trainer wife Denise while son Dan has taken out the Queensland bush jockey of the year title an incredible six times and both dad and son rode winners at the Cloncurry races last weekend.
Now they have another honour after being inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame in the associate category at the 2021 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards on Sunday.
Dan Ballard said it was very humbling that someone would think they were worthy to be nominated much less that the selection panel should agree with them.
"Racing has given our family so much and our shared love of the sport has helped to create a very special bond," Dan Ballard said.
"For all the achievements we've been blessed with over the years, it's the friendships we've made and the people that have supported us throughout the journey that mean the most to us.
"Thanks for all the messages, texts, and phone calls, we're deeply grateful to have so many wonderful people in our lives."
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
