Racing fraternity mourn loss of legendary caller

The WA horse racing fraternity is mourning the death of legendary caller Max Simmonds, who lost his battle with cancer this week aged 79.

Mr Simmonds lived in the southern Perth suburb of Waikiki but called at country racetracks in the North West for more than four decades, including Broome, Derby and Kununurra.

He did not attend the last Pearl Coast racing season in Broome because he was being treated for bladder cancer.

It was the first he had missed in more than 40 years.

Mr Simmonds was well known in Broome for his witty sense of humour and the accuracy of his race calling – something he prided himself on.

He stayed at the Roebuck Bay Caravan Park during his visits to Broome and always checked into the same site next to a huge boab tree overlooking the water.

Over the years, Mr Simmonds became close friends with caravan park manager and former Shire of Broome president Graeme Campbell.

He remembered his “old mate” for his genuine character and having a “heart of gold”.

“Max was one of life’s true gentlemen, who was dedicated to his passion of race calling,” Mr Campbell said.

“His involvement in horse racing in Broome expanded more than four decades and he was enormously respected as a person and as a professional.”

Long-time Broome Turf Club committeeman Mike Windle has been associated with Mr Simmonds for about 36 years.

“This leaves us with a big gap to fill,” Mr Windle said.

“Max was a great guy with a tremendous sense of humour. He was renowned for the accuracy of his race calling.

“I will always remember the good times with Max during racing seasons all over the North West.”

Shire of Broome president Ron Johnston, who knew Mr Simmonds since the 1980s, said he was an “early pioneer” of tourism for Broome as he organised package holidays for the race round.

Former Broome Turf Club president and manager Doug Milner described Mr Simmonds as a “wonderful guy” who made a significant contribution to the racing industry.

“Max was a great contributor to Broome racing over some 40 odd years…probably brought more attention to Broome Turf Club than any other individual person through his reputation in the racing industry,” he said.

“Not only did he do that in a more bigger picture way but he also did a lot of the little things…he attended the race course office voluntarily most mornings when I was there to help me with little jobs…and was a great assistant to me and great company.

“I miss Max already…even though we didn’t work together last year, but a wonderful guy and a great contributor to the racing industry in general and Broome racing and a good friend of mine and will be missed by a lot of people.”

In 2013, Mr Simmonds was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to horse racing in WA as race commentator.

He was thought to be the oldest racing commentator in Australia.

Mr Simmonds trained as a race caller under Keith Gollan and called his first race in 1953.

Known as the “voice of racing” in WA, Mr Simmonds has called a range of thoroughbred races from regional and metropolitan tracks, including 42 Perth Cups before retiring from the metropolitan circuit in 2003.

During his illustrious and colourful career in the Kimberley he called 43 Broome Cups.