Thoughts for Lincoln Farms’ groupie Margaret Rabbitt after Johnny Lincoln braves it out

One of Lincoln Farms’ most loyal supporters was remembered after Johnny Lincoln’s brave win at Auckland on Friday night.

Missing from the celebrations was Margaret Rabbitt, 82, who died last month after a short battle with cancer.

Rabbitt raced horses for 11 years with Lincoln Farms, business manager Ian Middleton describing her as the sweetest person he’d ever met.

“She was one of what I called the Lincoln Farms groupies and had small shares in lots of horses, usually three at a time.

Margaret Rabbitt, second from left, enjoys a win with fellow members of the all-women Excell syndicate Christine Stuart, Christine Rupp and Lynda Irwin-Parsons.“She was always a happy face, here to see them, and I can’t believe how quickly she went downhill.”

Rabbitt’s brother Brian, who also has a small share in Johnny Lincoln through the Athenry syndicate, said as recently as October, Margaret had been on holiday in Brisbane “acting like a two-year-old”.

Then one morning she work up with a terrible pain in her shoulder, which was diagnosed as an aggressive form of bone cancer.

“Margaret didn’t race any stars but she loved the company of all the people she met through Lincoln Farms and she always went straight to their room at the Park to say gidday.

“She loved Lincoln Farms horses winning, whether she was in the ownership or not.

“Horse racing was part of our family upbringing in Winton - we knew lots of aunties and uncles who had horses and all the Rabbitts would go to the Winton races.”

The Rabbitt connection - front and centre, Alana Rabbitt and partner Brad Baine giving the thumbs up in the winner’s circle.But Brian said Margaret didn’t get involved at Lincoln Farms’ until after the horse he had a share in, Beaudiene Boaz, won the Two-Year-Old Jewels at Cambridge in 2014 and was sold for big money to Australia.

“She thought I better get a part of this and even after her partner John Dias passed (in 2018), she loved it and went to the races regularly.”

Cheering in Margaret’s place on Friday night were her niece, Alana Rabbitt and partner Brad Baine, representing the Athenry syndicate, Middleton, Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and co-trainer Ray Green, with the Four Legs Syndicate, Duncan Chisholm and Kathy James celebrating from afar.

And, fittingly, Johnny Lincoln was all heart as he sat parked throughout to down the pacemaking Amazing Captain by a neck.

“When he got parked I thought we were in trouble,” Green said.

Johnny Lincoln is too tough for Amazing Captain on Friday night. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.But driver Andre Poutama anticipated the three-year-old might be left out from his wide barrier “and I thought he was tough enough to do it.”

The win, the horse’s third in 16 starts, was typical of his previous triumphs, Green said.

“He’s not one that will ever beat them up. Every win has been hard fought, but he’s copped it.”

Green described Johnny Lincoln, who nearly lost an eye as a youngster through an infection, as “a good, honest little horse who keeps maturing.”

All of Johnny Lincoln’s wins have been at Auckland but Green suspects the gelding, by Woodlands Stud sire Lather Up, might be better going left-handed.