Industry Profiles: Donna Logan on life lessons and training racehorses

Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell

With this in mind, this segment celebrates the diversity of the industry while exploring the careers and future plans of its established personalities.

In our first feature, we caught up with trailblazer Donna Logan, a multiple Group 1-winning trainer in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. Logan discussed the devastation caused by the closure of Singapore racing and how it should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ for racing jurisdictions worldwide.

Grew up on horseback

A Kiwi girl at heart, Donna Logan was born in Kawakawa, in the Far North of New Zealand. From an early age, her deep connection with horses was evident, and it quickly blossomed into a love for racing. Logan shared with TTR AusNZ the formative steps that led her to become a trainer:

“My parents raced horses many years ago, and they had what was called a pie cart. They met an old racing identity at the time named Baggy Hillis, who was quite influential in getting them involved in racing.

“Of course, I quickly fell in love with the sport and the horses, having grown up riding. I was practically on horseback before I could walk. I’ve always adored animals, particularly horses, and after going to the races with my parents, a couple of older trainers said to my dad, ‘Why doesn’t she become a female jockey?’—that’s how they said it in those days: ‘female jockey’ or ‘lady rider.’

“My dad would say, ‘She’ll never work in a stable, my daughter’s not working in a stable.’ Back then, the stables were full of tough, grumpy old men,” Logan recalled.

Logan becomes a jockey

As it turned out, Logan’s father was wrong. The allure of horses was too strong, and she did end up in a stable and on horseback. “I started an apprenticeship with a man named Sid Edwards, who trained the great Jan’s Beau up in Northland, which meant I could stay at home and still work.

“However, I was quite isolated, as we were really out on a limb with limited horses in the North, but that’s how I started.”

Jan’s Beau (NZ) (Head Hunter {GB}) was an outstanding runner, winning the G1 Australian Cup and the G2 Feehan S., along with several other contests across Australasia.

“After my apprenticeship with Sid, I transferred to Calvin Snell in Ruakaka and finished my apprenticeship with him. I thought, ‘I just want to keep doing this.’ So, I applied for my trainer’s licence. In those days, you started with a permit to train, which limited you to 10 horses.

“My numbers quickly surpassed that, and I was reported to the racing jurisdiction for having more than I was allowed. However, they said, ‘Let’s just apply for a Class A trainer’s licence,’ and I did. That’s how I rolled on from there.

“You had to have a bank guarantee for your money and references. They didn’t just give a Class A licence out—you had to tick all the boxes, and I did. There were also obligations to live within a certain area, close to your horses.”

Logan explained, “It was actually really good for me because I could ride my own horses in races. There was a method to my madness. Although I had limited success as a rider, the last time I rode in a race was when Lance O’Sullivan won on a horse for me. I said, ‘I’m going to run this horse at Ruakaka next week,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll ride her.’

“In those days, you didn’t have to declare riders a week in advance, and about three days before the race, Lance told me, ‘Oh my God, Donna, Dad’s going to run a horse in that race, and he said I have to ride his horse.’ Of course, all the good jockeys were taken, so I thought, ‘Oh bugger it, I’ll ride the horse myself.’ I did, and Lance beat me by a head—I ran second.

“He looked over at me as we crossed the winning post and said, ‘Thank God you rode her.’ And I thought, ‘Jesus, he’s just told me I’ve been out-ridden by the best, and I’m costing myself winners as a trainer.’ That was it—I wasn’t going to ride anymore.

“I threw my boots in the cupboard and focused on getting the best jockeys to ride my horses. I’ve pretty much done that ever since. It was a nice wake-up call in a pleasant, subtle way, but it worked.”

Classy horses

When asked if she had any favourites over her years of training, Logan reflected, “I’ve had so many really, really good horses, but El Duce was a special one because a lovely old friend of my family bred him and raced him with us. He won a lot of nice races for us, and he ran second in the New Zealand Derby.

“He was a tough little horse, only 15.2hh. We sold half of him to Singapore, but he was badly galloped on. After his retirement, we brought him back to New Zealand, and I started training him again. Despite his injury, he won two Waikato Gold Cups for me. He was a real, tough little warhorse. There’s a special place for him in my heart.

"Victory Smile also stands out—he won the Metropolitan for me in Sydney and the Wellington Gold Cup. Rising Romance won the G1 Australian Oaks and placed in the Caulfield Cup.

“We’ve had some lovely, lovely animals pass through our stable doors. Each had their own individual personality, and they were always a pleasure to work with.”

Singapore journey

Logan explained her decision and the journey that led her to take up the challenge in Singapore: “I’d always had a love for racing in Singapore because we’ve sent horses there to race for our clients over the years. The prizemoney was fantastic, and it was always inviting. We’d often come up to watch races, and I’d think, ‘God, I’d love to train here.’ But old Laurie Laxon would say, ‘Don’t come just yet, the place isn’t quite ready for you. There’s no real openings.’ They didn’t really want the extra competition because they were making a fortune.”

However, Logan was ready for a new challenge. After her success in New Zealand and Australia, where she had won Group races, she felt it was time for something different. As so often the case, “A change is as good as a holiday.” So, Logan decided it was time to give Singapore a go: “I got to the point where I thought, ‘Jesus, I’ve ticked off so many Cups in New Zealand and Australia. I’d travelled to Brisbane every winter for the carnival for probably 12 years. I needed a new challenge in life. I’m not getting any younger, and I love a challenge.

"All the children had grown up, most had finished university, so I asked them how they’d feel if I applied to train in Singapore. I wasn’t sure I’d even get in because the criteria were so strict. But I applied, and before long they got back to me and asked if I could come to Singapore. So, I flew up with my daughter, and when I got there, they said, ‘Oh, by the way, you’ve got your licence.’ It was great, but I thought, couldn’t you have just told me that over the phone? But that’s very typical of Singapore.

“We didn’t have much time to prepare, but when I told the kids, they said, ‘Go for it!’ And we did. We moved here seven years ago, and we’ve loved every minute of it.”

Singapore’s Heyday

In June last year, it was officially confirmed that racing in Singapore would come to an end in October 2024. This decision would have far-reaching consequences, with thousands soon to lose their livelihoods, forced to either find other work or uproot their lives and relocate. There was also the issue of what would happen to the horses, particularly for trainers or owners who couldn’t take them to new racing jurisdictions.

To make matters worse, the announcement came shortly after the sales season in Australia, where Singapore-based trainers and owners had actively purchased horses with the intention of racing them in Singapore.

Logan reflected on Singapore’s golden era, saying, “During its heyday, the crowds were enormous, and the sponsorship was incredible. The pre-function events for big races were handled impeccably—they didn’t miss a beat.”

However, Logan admits that by the time she arrived in 2017, the industry’s sheen had begun to fade. “I noticed when I arrived in Singapore that racing was on a slippery slope. It was getting worse, and the industry didn’t have the right people to promote it. You can talk to so many people in Singapore who don’t even know there’s a racecourse here. They’ve missed entire generations because you’re not allowed to advertise the races or gambling, and no one under 18 is allowed on the racecourse.

“That means owners with young children can’t take their families to watch their horses run. Racing has lost all its appeal to the younger generation. The older generation in government were passionate about racing—they had it in their blood and owned horses. They promoted it, but as they passed away, no younger people came into government with the same knowledge or support. Now, they just see it as an old auntie’s and uncle’s day out.

“And then there’s the land value of Kranji Racecourse, which is worth around $42 billion. To the government, that’s far more valuable than having racing. You have to keep people interested, and you have to involve the younger generation, or you’ll lose racing. It’s a real lesson.”

Logan’s words are a stark warning, and with racing worldwide fighting to maintain its ‘social licence’, the demise of racing in Singapore could be a wake-up call for other jurisdictions if their leaders and participants don’t act. “I think you’ve got to keep your heroes in the public eye. Blake Shinn, James McDonald—those guys need to be posted as heroes and role models to keep the younger generation invested in our sport.

“And of course, the horses. When you have a good horse, promote it! Make that horse an icon too, to keep people interested and involved. Otherwise, it’s really depressing what can happen. If you’re in Singapore now, it’s so empty, and the people who are still here are walking around with doom and gloom on their faces.”

Logan added that saying goodbye to the staff and the community she had bonded with in Singapore has been difficult. “I recently wrote a reference for a young man who worked for me, and he came up to me and said, ‘Donna, Donna, it’s my last day.’ I asked him what he was doing, and he said, ‘I’ve got the job in Hong Kong. Thank you for all your support, but I’m not going to see you again.’

“As I drove away, I thought, this is awful. So many people are leaving, and you’re just never going to see them again—the staff you’ve had the whole time you’ve been here. They all went to a job fair today (Wednesday) to see what opportunities are available. A lot of them aren’t qualified to work in many different fields, and it’s tough.

“They’re saying the last day will be a big celebration, but I think it’s going to feel more like a mass funeral. I don’t think anyone who trains horses, rides horses, or works in the industry wants to celebrate those last days.

“All the staff here love their animals, and many of them have worked at the club their entire lives. Having just gone back to New Zealand for my son’s wedding and feeling the climate change, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m dying!’”

Highlights in Singapore

Despite the sadness surrounding the end of racing in Singapore, Logan reflected on some of the career highlights she enjoyed during her time in the jurisdiction. “Winning the Kranji Mile was a highlight. It was a million-dollar Group 1, which was incredible. However, it was right in the middle of COVID, and no one was allowed at the races except one staff member, your jockey, and the trainer.

“So it wasn’t celebrated in the way you would normally celebrate winning a Group 1. That was a tough period—getting through COVID, surviving it, and coming out the other side. Another highlight for me was getting the nod to train for Te Akau Racing in Singapore. That was a real privilege.

“They run a tight ship, and they don’t just put anybody at the helm, so it was another challenge that I took on and ticked the boxes. I’ve always been someone who tries to focus on moving forward. I don’t look back, and I don’t want to look back and think, ‘I could have’ or ‘I should have.’

“I want to make sure I give things a go, so I can say, ‘I did that.’ Whether it was successful or not, I move on to the next challenge and keep forging ahead.”

What does the future hold?

With the closure of racing in Singapore set for next month, Logan has her sights on the future and confirmed she will return to New Zealand, basing herself in Auckland. “I’ve decided to go back and train in New Zealand. I’ve had a lot of support from previous clients, who encouraged me to return and train.

“So, I thought it’s better to be with the devil I know than the devil I don’t. I did consider Australia, but it’s so big now with a lot of massive operations, and it would be very difficult. You wouldn’t get the recognition for what you’ve done or what you can do.

“I’ve always campaigned horses in Australia, and I can still do that. But I’ll go home, where I know my bearings and know I have support, even though I thought I might have been forgotten.

“I’ll be based very close to the airport, so I can easily get the horses on a plane if I need to go to Australia or elsewhere. Having previously travelled horses long distances to races, I now believe the less travel, the better for the horses. So, I felt Auckland would be a good base.

“The population is there, and the big-money races are at Ellerslie, so I’ll be close to that. It’s definitely a plus to be returning to New Zealand at a time when the industry is improving and not going backwards. I’m probably lucky to be going home for that reason.”

However, Logan admits it’s still hard to believe the state-of-the-art facilities in Singapore will soon be gone. “It’s still just very hard to accept. Singapore probably has one of the best, most state-of-the-art training facilities I’ve ever seen, and to think it will just be gone is heartbreaking.

“It will never be replicated anywhere in the world because the cost of doing so would be enormous. It just shows that this can all disappear. No one ever expected the facilities and track we have in Singapore could vanish, so it’s a real wake-up call.

“Many of us trainers had gone to Australia and New Zealand to buy yearlings and horses to bring here, and then they announced the closure. They said we had 18 months’ notice, but a lot of us got caught out, and we’ve struggled through to survive up to this point. It’s been a real eye-opener for many of us.

“It’s going to be tough for a lot of people going forward, having to relocate and start over. Even though I can return to New Zealand, it’s still daunting. You have to start again, buy feed bins, head collars, and all those things you had before.

“Then there’s packing up your house—it’s a lot. But, as I said, it’s life. I always look forward to a challenge and take it on board. You have to deal with the cards you’re dealt. It is what it is.”

Logan added, “I got back from New Zealand, and it all feels quite scary, but then my son Robert said, ‘Mum, you moved seven years ago to a country where you’d never lived and didn’t know anyone. You handled that, and now you’re just coming home.’ And then I thought, ‘Yeah, okay, when you put it like that, you’re right. It’s not such a big deal.’”

Life Advice

Wrapping up her chat with The Thoroughbred Report, Logan shared some valuable advice for people from all walks of life and at any stage of their careers in racing:

“I think racing makes you a tough person. I’ve always been upfront, honest, and I tackle things head-on. Don’t look back—just get on with it.

"Take everything in your stride and treat people as you’d like to be treated yourself, and you’ll go a long way. You’ll always be able to hold your head up high. Pay your bills, look after people, and make sure that wherever you go in the world, in any racing jurisdiction, you can say, ‘I haven’t done anybody any harm.’ That’s something I’m proud of.

"It goes a long way with a lot of people, it really does.”