RACING LOOKS AFTER ITS OWN. PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE BRENDEN MACKAY FAMILY

By Darren Winningham | Friday, October 9, 2020

I just want to draw people’s attention to a wonderful friend and a father who has been involved in racing for many years. Brenden Mackay was no Chris Waller or Ciaron Maher in training ranks but he was one of many blokes who learnt their craft through mentorship and then went out on his own to train horses. He learnt his craft with his dad, Reg Mackey before being tutored by some of the best trainers ever – Bruce McLachlan and then a stint with Anthony and Bart Cummings.

I was at Grafton in 2014 in the first race on Grafton Cup day – the second day of the Carnival. Big Money had won the Ramornie the day before. WINNO was cashed up and I had seen a trial of a mare Cliques who was trained by Brenden Mackay.

The trial jockey was Michael Hellyer – but as usual he was suspended over the Carnival, and the horse had been brought to Grafton to race in a BM70 race with apprentice at the time Nori Masuda to ride. I made some enquiries and then did the form and declared Cliques as a special – everyone laughed at me – she was $33.

I went and introduced myself to Brenden prior to the race – he was in a muck lather – his first runner and at the Carnival and here was some fool called WINNO telling him she was a special at $33.

The horse has been trained previously by Peter Snowden and was a failed broodmare and by some twist of fate Brenden had been given her to train.

How fate evolves. The mare wins the race coming from last storming down the outside. The bookies cheered, Winno cheered and there were tears and lots of emotions in the saddling enclosure.

I even got a kiss on the cheek and the biggest hug from my new-found friend Brenden Mackay. Who comes to a Grafton Carnival and then trains a winner with his first runner as a trainer? I am certain that this I some type of record!

Fast forward 6 years – I have remained in contact with Brenden.

I enjoyed meeting his family, his wonderful wife Megan and have had the pleasure of meeting his daughter Ava – now five years old and his 1-year old son Noah.

Brenden has been in a battle since August 2019 when he was diagnosed with the insidious disease CANCER. In fact brain cancer – something that has been in the public arena for the past few years due to the spotlight that has been put on it by the NRL and their annual “Beanies for Brain cure” round of football to raise money for research into this horrible and debilitating disease.

Brenden is being treated at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. With the border restrictions I cannot even go and visit him. In March 2020 he underwent surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, a dramatic turn of events has occurred in the past fortnight.

He has been diagnosed with another tumour and has had several complications. Brenden is a fighter – he has been knocked down in his 48 years he had been on this earth and he has dusted himself off and soldiered on.

He has had to hand in his trainers’ licence – and the family have expenses with travelling to and from Sydney along with other personal challenges.

Winno is genuinely sad.

I captured a photo in September 2015 when he brought another runner to town – in fact to Doomben. The horse was a talented sprinter called Nardoo and she was ridden by a young Jimmy Orman. She was heavily backed and she got the chocolates. I peered into to grandstand and managed to capture one of the most telling, emotional and inspirational photos that I have even taken – Brenden his beautiful wife Megan and between them there recently born daughter Ava. Words cannot do this photograph justice.

I feel helpless now. I cannot see my mate. I cannot give him a big hug and look into those eyes and say things will be better. Not even can I tell where and how this journey may end. The unknown is in the hand of the doctors, the drugs, the treatment and of course the will of Brenden to continue this fight against this insidious disease that has struck him down.

What I can do is draw your attention to a GO FUND ME page designed to assist Brenden, Megan, Ava, and Noah in the fight of their life. Anything that you can spare will be received with warmth and humility.

If you can spare $5 – go without a coffee or just find the time to share the page I am certain that the Mackay family and extended family will be eternally grateful.

Brenden's GoFundMe page

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