Born in New Zealand, Lou Robertson came to Australia in the early 1900s with a team of trotters. He soon made his mark in the trotting world, but then branched out into thoroughbred racing, and was granted his trainer's licence.
Robertson had his first big win in the Adelaide Cup in 1914, followed by the Australian Cup and the Caulfield Cup in 1915. In the 1920s he trained for the legendary bookmaker/owner, Sol Green. With Green's champion sprinter, Gothic, he won two Newmarket Handicaps, a Futurity Stakes, and a number of weight-for-age races; with Strephon he won the Victoria Derby and St Leger and the AJC St Leger. In 1935 Robertson fulfilled his greatest ambition by winning the Melbourne Cup with Marabou. In 1928-29, he was Melbourne's leading trainer.
In the 1940s Robertson continued to be a dominant force in Melbourne racing, winning the trainers' premiership in 1943-44 and 1944-45. His last big win came with Lincoln in the 1949 Caulfield Cup.
Robertson finally quit racing in 1954. He is remembered not only as a masterful trainer but as the force behind many a spectacular and successful betting plunge.
Robertson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
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