Episode 572: Kris Lees

About this episode

Kris Lees reflects on his journey in horse training following the passing of his father, Max, and discusses his career achievements and experiences in the racing industry.

Kris Lees was thirty three years old when his father Max passed away in 2003. He’d been training a handful of horses in his own right while working as stable foreman for his very respected trainer/dad. He was left reeling when a sudden illness claimed Max’s life at just 63 years of age. Kris made the instant decision to carry on where the multiple Gr 1 trainer had left off. The team totalled 50 horses and Kris was humbled to learn that almost every existing client had decided to leave their horses exactly where they were. Twenty three years on Kris has established a stellar training record and boasts some amazing season by season statistics. It’s seven years since Lees Jnr has been a guest on this podcast and it’s high time we invited him back. The trainer says very few call him by his birth name of Kristen. He talks about his horse numbers at Newcastle and on the Gold Coast with acknowledgement of the people who look after his Queensland operation. Kris is justifiably proud of his training stats over more than two decades. He takes us back to early days when he went to work for his father after getting an exemption from school. He talks of an ambition to be a bookmaker and his…

People in this episode

Guest: Kris Lees

Topics covered

• horse training
• racing history
• family legacy
• career development
• Newcastle racing

Keywords

• Kris Lees
• Max Lees
• horse training
• Newcastle
• racing statistics
• family legacy
• Ray Wallace

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Newcastle, Gold Coast

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