Colin McKenna, the Western Victorian abattoir magnate turned Group 1-winning owner and the man who propelled Ciaron Maher’s training career, has died after a short illness.

Colin McKenna
Colin McKenna has been Ciaron Maher's biggest supporter throughout his career. (Photo: Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

McKenna was only recently diagnosed with a brain tumour and his passing was confirmed by the Midfield Group, the meat processing company he founded, on Sunday morning.

"It is with heavy hearts the McKenna family wishes to advise our founder, fearless leader and mentor to many passed away this morning with his family by his side after a short illness," the statement said.

Among those to pay tribute was Maher’s stable. McKenna had been Maher’s major owner throughout his career and raced several star horses with him, including multiple Group 1 winner Jameka.

“Heaven gained a true gentleman this morning,” Maher’s stable wrote on social media.

“Our hearts go out to Janice and the entire McKenna family. Fly high Col, we love you and you will be so very deeply missed.”

McKenna, who had been a long-term family friend, has been the most influential force in Maher’s rise to become one of the top two stables in the country.

As well as stars like Jameka and more recently Another Wil and Saturday’s JRA Cup winner Future History, McKenna, through his Halo Racing Services, also shared in the ownership of dual Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Regina Coeli, Jericho Cup winner Wil John and Galleywood Hurdle winner Big Blue.

He was also a part-owner in Merchant Navy, who won a Coolmore Stud Stakes and a Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

McKenna also had a host of horses with other trainers, including with Mitchell Freedman, who prepared Attrition to win last year’s Toorak Handicap in McKenna’s blue and green colours.

His family’s Midfield Group business is one of the most significant meat processing firms in Victoria and the McKenna family wealth was estimated at close to $500 million in 2021.

He built that up from humble beginnings, with his father a soldier settler who built a farm north of Warrnambool. McKenna began working in meat processing in the 1970s and built up Midfield.

Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison, on behalf of the industry, offered condolences to the McKenna family and the businessman's friends.

“Colin loved his racing, his horses and the people in our industry. In particular, he was a tremendous supporter of Warrnambool, the May Racing Carnival and a range of trainers within his local region," Morrison said.

“His passing, just a week after sharing in the ownership of Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa, is a sad note at a time when we are celebrating the very best of the sport he loved.

“We know that Colin will be deeply missed by his family, the local community, and all in racing who knew him and witnessed the impact he made to our sport throughout his life.”  

In 2021, McKenna was recognised in the Australia Day honours list as a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community.

Racing IndustryNews