About Alderson Racing

Alderson Racing has been successfully training racehorses in Australia for over 40 years. Now in its third generation of horse trainers, Colin Alderson has held his training licence since 1966 and daughter Cindy Alderson obtained her licence in 1990.

Together, Colin and Cindy have achieved a number of firsts. In September 2006, they were among the first Australian Trainers to form a racehorse training partnership. Since then, Colin and Cindy have achieved the first Australian Winner, the first hurdle winner and the first Australian Group Winner trained by a partnership.

Each horse trained by Colin and Cindy benefits from their combined strengths of horsemanship, experience, innovative ideas and uncanny understanding of the equine psyche. The Alderson Racing team has the facilities, technology and a commitment second to none that ensures their horses are given the best possible chance to reach their full potential.

Without doubt their greatest satisfaction in this industry comes from sharing the thrill of racing with their owners, family and friends. When owners ring to enquire about their horse, they are never put on hold, only to be answered by a ‘client liaison officer’. At Alderson racing, you speak directly with Cindy or Colin – the next best thing to the horse's mouth!

We love horses and we love racing. To say racing is in our blood is a given. Come race with us and it’ll be in your blood too!

 

Colin Alderson

Colin started in the industry at the age of 13 as an amateur jockey riding for his father, Tom Alderson, who held an owner-trainer licence. For a short time he broke in thoroughbreds before obtaining his trainer's licence in 1966.

Colin learnt the ropes in an era where little technology was available. His background in riding and breaking has given him a deep understanding of a horse's psyche. Colin has an uncanny sixth sense when it comes to horses and an armory of horsemanship skills to fix ailments.

‘I believe the secret to training is thoroughly knowing a horse's weaknesses and strengths and keeping them mentally alert and happy,’ says Colin.

From a relatively small team of horses, Colin has built a successful career spanning in excess of 40 years. He has won almost every Country Cup in Victoria and has trained many Group & Listed race winners throughout all the major carnivals in Australia. There have been many highlights not least of which was training Caulfield Cup winner, Sky Heights with Inaflury third in the same race.

Colin is well known and respected for his honesty and pro-active approach in the industry. He is currently the Victorian & Australian President of the Australian Trainers Association - taking over the Victorian Presidency of the Australian Trainers’ Association in 1992 and assuming the President of the Federal Australian Trainers’ Association in 1997. From this position Colin has been able to advocate for industry wide improvements for both the trainers and owners. In 2000, Colin became the proud recipient of the Medal of Australia commemorating Australian Sporting Achievement from Prime Minister, John Howard.

Colin has a reputation as a ‘straight talker’ and has a deep enduring passion for horses and the racing industry.

 

Cindy Alderson

Cindy may have served the longest apprenticeship ever in horse training. Since getting on a horses’ back at the age of three, Cindy has been under the watchful, coaching eye of her father, Colin. She went on to compete in many Equestrian disciplines including winning a State Level Championship.

After completing her Teaching Diploma in 1987, Cindy enjoyed a two year sojourn overseas, where she worked and gained experience at stables in the UK, USA and New Zealand.

In 1990, Cindy obtained her Training Licence, being among the very first women in Australia to be granted a permit to train. She achieved metropolitan success with the first horse she trained – ‘Old Magician’.

For a brief period, Cindy was employed by Racing Victoria to implement and run a Traineeship program for the industry. Later, she was employed by Victoria University to write resource materials for racing industry training.

In 2000, Cindy committed to training full time and draws on her own experiences and the shared knowledge and experience of Colin. Cindy is an excellent student of bloodlines and has a keen eye for a future champion.