The Licensing Committee meeting held on 3 February 2023 resolved to grant Mark Newnham a Trainer’s licence for the 2023/2024 racing season.

Profile – Mark Newnham

Renowned for a diligent and patient approach to training his horses, Mark Newnham’s career in racing spans over 30 years and includes stints under Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainers Bart Cummings and Gai Waterhouse. Alongside Cummings, Newnham worked with turf superstars such as Campaign King, Beau Zam, Tristanagh, Sky Chase and 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule.

Newnham spent time in Europe but returned to Australia to begin a riding apprenticeship with Gai Waterhouse in the late 1990s. Their relationship thrived and after short riding stints overseas, Newnham went on to work full-time with Waterhouse where he played a vital role in her continued success.

He rode the great Pierro in work before he won the 2012 Golden Slipper and he did the same for Fiorente in the lead-up to his 2013 Melbourne Cup win. Newnham took out his licence to train in 2016 and is currently stabled at Royal Randwick.

The 55-year-old has been a regular figure in the ultra-competitive Sydney championship’s top 10 with his stable producing standout performers Shadow Hero, Maid Of Heaven, Nakeeta Jane, Splintex and Quackerjack among nearly 400 career-wins, including over 40 at black type level.