The New South Wales horse racing community is mourning the sudden death of popular trainer Ben Smith at the age of 42.
News Corp reports Newcastle police are investigating Smith’s death but there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances.
He was a two-time Group 1 winning trainer.
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Trainer Ben Smith poses with In Her Time in 2017. Getty
Smith won The Galaxy with In Her Time and won the ATC Sires Produce Stakes with El Dorado Dreaming, both in 2018.
It was after those triumphs, when Smith was at the peak of his training powers, that his career was turned upside down.
He was preparing In Her Time for a tilt at The Everest – the world’s richest horse race – when he was hit with a long suspension after being found guilty of cobalt and conduct offences.
Smith had his licence suspended by Racing NSW for three years and nine months.
He returned to training in 2022 and managed to score 17 winners across the 2023-24 season.
But in May last year he was hit with another lengthy suspension.
He and one of his horses both tested positive for banned substances, and Racing NSW banned him for 13 months.
Tragically, that suspension was nearing its end when he died.
The racing community is now paying tribute to the once-promising Newcastle trainer.
Kim Waugh wrote on X, “very sad… thinking of his family at this time”.