The late Garth Miller and Basil Nelson – passionate about racing and breeding
Top racehorse owner and breeder Garth Miller has passed away.
A nominee of the BBP Syndicate, Garth passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He would have turned 72 on 17 November.
Regular Sporting Post reader, and his partner in racing passion, Basil Nelson tells us that he and Garth and met around nineteen years ago.
They unknowingly shared a passion for thoroughbred horses.
“In my profession as an Accountant, Garth was one of my clients at that time. Following a meeting at his home, a glance at a photograph on a wall led to a friendship and partnership that I will value forever.”
The result of their meeting was the purchase of the beautifully related Goldkeeper filly Secret of Victoria in 2004.
Secret Of Victoria overcame a fractured sesamoid early.
Secret Of Victoria’s daughter All Is Secret powers home to win the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in 2013
In 2005 ran she ran second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson at Hollywoodbets Scottsville to Rock Opera after having won the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Clairwood.
She would go on to win both the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes and Sceptre Stakes at four.
From the same Equus Champion family as Snowdance and Bela-Bela, she has produced seven winners from as many runners, amongst which the Gr1 winning full sisters All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out.
The former earned championship honours with victories in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship and Thekwini Stakes, and went on to claim the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in open company at three.
In an ironic twist of timing, Secret Of Victoria’s legendary dam Mystic Spring has her last foal on this coming week’s BSA National 2yo in lot 224.
“As a pharmacist Garth was the true professional in whom his clients had the utmost confidence. I think that his jovial and communicative abilities complimented his professional attributes completely. Rest in peace, my friend and colleague,” said Basil in a tribute to a man he enjoyed many memorable moments with on the track.
We join Basil in extending deepest sympathies to Garth’s family, including Linda and his children Jade and Scott, as well as his many friends and associates.
Racing has lost a staunch supporter.
