Champion thoroughbred trainer, Jim Atkins, inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

Jim Atkins’ legacy lives on, as the decorated horse racing trainer was officially inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame. 

Atkins was honoured at the Qsport Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Induction late last month, where he became just the second trainer to be elevated to Queensland Hall of Fame status.  

Unfortunately the proud Queenslander passed away in 2010 at the age of 94, so accepting the honor on his behalf was his son John Atkins. 

According to John, his father’s seven decade career was grounded in an absolute love of horses.

“He (Atkins) took out a trainers licence at the age of 18 and he held it to the day he died,” said John. 

“Getting up at 3:30am every morning in the Toowoomba cold, he had to love what he did.”

The Toowomba based trainer notched up over 3000 career wins, including a number of Group 1 victories and five Brisbane Metropolitan Trainers Premierships. 

Over his career he had a number of championship winning thoroughbreds pass through his stable - including middle-distance superstar Dalrello, Grey Affair and Prince Ruiling. 

In 2013, one of the state's most prestigious two-year-old-races was named the Group 1 JJ Atkins, paying homage to the late racing great. 

According to his son John, Atkins is remembered as one of the Queensland racing industry's true gentlemen.

“He was a gentleman in the true sense of the word, he was a humble man,” said John.

“He would say this honour was a win for the bush, he wouldn’t take any kudos at all.”