Henry Eugene 'Harry' Tancred

(1897 - 1961) - Inducted in 2007 

Harry Tancred came to thoroughbred racing after building up, with his brothers, one of the largest companies in the Australian meat industry.

Tancred raced many horses, the best of which was High Caste who won 33 races carrying his colours. He was elected to the Committee of the Sydney Turf Club in 1941, appointed Vice-Chairman in 1945, served as Chairman from 1953-59, and retired from the Committee in 1961.

As Chairman Tancred encouraged new ideas. Once satisfied as to the merits of a proposal, he brought all his tenacity and drive to achieve its implementation. The photo finish, mobile starting stalls, and electronic timing devices were cases in point where the STC was a forerunner for developments which have since become standard equipment at racecourses. Tancred also presided over the Committee when it inaugurated Australia’s premier race for two-year-olds, the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Tancred name was commemorated in the H.E. Tancred Stakes (now the BMW), a 2,400 metre weight-for-age event at the Sydney autumn carnival.

Harry Tancred was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

Image source: Courtesy of Australian Racing Museum