23/07/2024
Memorial races are an integral part of remembering and honouring those who have paved the way for the successful race days we now hold 🐎
VALE Neville (Nocka) Peoples | 4th August 1932 – 16th June 2024
Neville Peoples was a trainer for close on 40 years from the early 1960s to 2001. At times at Boonamerrie and the Aramac Hotel, Nocka Peoples had up to 30 horses in work. During his career, Nocka had many good horses such as Snedden, Holmebrook, Paper Hat, Plastercine, Chedwin, Charivari, Got There, Sodair, Loquacity, Marque Moon, Draw the Line, Ivanhoe Miss, Able Cain, Vespasian, Light Brigade, Rainy Day Feeling and Holy Image to name a few, but the list goes on.
During his racing career as a trainer, Nocka won a lot of races on a lot of tracks around Queenland. Nev Peoples trained winners at Eagle Farm, Doomben, Gold Coast, Caloundra, Esk, Kilcoy, Gympie, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Townsville, Charters Towers, Mt Isa, McKinley, Normanton, Winton, Birdsville, Bedourie, Betoota, Windorah, Jundah, Longreach, Barcaldine, Tambo, Blackall, Isisford, Aramac, Muttaburra, Alpha, Charleville, Roma, Mitchell, Thargomindah, Quilpie, Cunnamulla, Nocundra, Emerald, and Darwin.
He won two Birdsville Cups with Snedden and had several placings with others. He won a Townsville Cup with Holmebrook and a Mackay Cup with Marque Moon. He won a Darwin Lightning Handicap with Rainy Day Feeling. In addition to this he won numerous races across Country Queensland.
Nocka always had a good jockey riding for him including Danny Williams, Mick Aspinal, Peter Hosie, Tod Austin, Charlie Prow, Brad Johnson, Kev Birse, Jimmy Cerchi, Paul Alderman, Paul Denton, Rhett Bellert, Bill Kenning and Danny Adams just to name a few.
Nocka had a great eye and knowledge of horses and was an excellent conditioner. His horses always were prepared well and looked the part. He could keep a horse up for 12 months. He did most of his own shoeing and was a very good bush vet who had a list of homemade remedies that were magical in the way they worked.
Nocka’s prowess as a trainer not only brought glory to the sport but also encouraged countless of aspiring horsemen and women to achieve their goals in the racing Industry. Due to Nocka’s generosity and willingness to help allcomers he will be remembered for so much by so many.
Nocka Peoples with Holmebrook at Eagle Farm - early 1990s
