SHEILA LAXON

Early Life & Riding Career

  • Born in Wales, Sheila was immersed in ponies and competition from a young age, excelling in showjumping and eventing.
  • Represented Great Britain in a Junior Showjumping Team in France before moving into racing.
  • Secured an Amateur Licence in New Zealand, riding in steeplechases, hurdles, and flat races against professionals.
  • Out of her first nine rides, she won four, showcasing her natural horsemanship.

Big Fall in New Zealand

  • Rode competitively for about 10 years until a serious race fall in New Zealand left her severely injured, including a traumatic brain injury and broken leg.
  • This accident ended her riding career but revealed her resilience — she rebuilt herself as a trainer, refusing to let setbacks define her.

Major Role with Laurie Laxon

  • Married New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon, with whom she had two children.
  • Played a major role in his training operation, combining administrative expertise with hands‑on horsemanship.
  • When Laurie moved to Singapore in 1999, Sheila took over the New Zealand team, marking the start of her own distinguished training career.

Training Achievements

  • Became an “A” trainer in 1997 and quickly made her mark.
  • Won Filly of the Year with Sarwatch in her first season.
  • In 2001–2002, trained Ethereal to win the Queensland Oaks, Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, and BMW Stakes — five Group 1 victories in less than a year.
  • Became the first woman officially credited with training a Melbourne Cup winner, a trailblazing achievement that inspired women across the racing industry.

Titles & Awards

  • Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM), awarded in the 2002 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to racing.
  • Fred Hoysted Award for the Australian season’s outstanding training performance, recognising her success with Ethereal.
  • NZ Thoroughbred Racing Award for Outstanding Global Achievement (2025), honouring her international impact and dual Melbourne Cup victories.
  • Multiple accolades at the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Awards, celebrating her pioneering role and sustained excellence.

Resilience & Determination

  • Survived multiple racetrack injuries, including another devastating fall at Macedon Lodge in 2002 that sidelined her for 18 months.
  • Each time, Sheila fought back, rebuilding her career and proving her toughness both physically and mentally.

Partnership with John Symons

  • Meeting John Symons marked the beginning of both a personal and professional partnership.
  • Their marriage and training alliance combined Sheila’s pioneering Group 1 success with John’s sharp eye for yearlings and proven training record.
  • Together, they built Symons Laxon Racing, blending resilience, excellence, and a shared vision for producing champions.

2024 Melbourne Cup Triumph

  • In 2024, Sheila repeated her Melbourne Cup success 23 years after Ethereal, this time with Knight’s Choice.
  • This remarkable achievement — two Melbourne Cup wins from two attempts — cemented her status as one of the sport’s most extraordinary figures.

Return to Macedon Lodge

  • In 2025, Sheila and John Symons returned to Macedon Lodge, the elite training facility where they first rose to prominence.
  • Their combined legacy — Ethereal’s triumph, Knight’s Choice’s Melbourne Cup, and decades of success — now fuels a new chapter at one of Australia’s premier training bases.
  • Sheila’s trailblazing spirit, resilience, and decorated career continue to inspire owners, fans, and women across the racing world.

 

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