December 10, 2019

One of Sydney racing’s most popular characters, Royal Randwick trainer Pat Webster, has released a book on his colourful life story.

True to the heart of Pat, who has trained at Royal Randwick for more than 50 years, he is donating proceeds of the book back to the racing industry.

Pat was joined by family, friends and peers on Tuesday to launch Don’t Die Wondering – The Pat Webster Story, in the Old Jockeys Room at Royal Randwick.

The book details Pat’s youth as a drover’s son in Inverell, his early times as a jockey, through to his successful training career with a string of gallopers including At Sea, Ab Initio, Thankgodyou’rehere and his multiple Group 1 winning champion Happy Clapper.

But central to Pat’s life story has been his work as an accredited drug and alcohol counsellor, and particularly his son Pat junior’s own drug addiction.

Pat snr has devoted huge amounts of time in helping the racing industry and those in the wider community battling drug and alcohol addiction and rehabilitation.

He has also been a mentor for young jockeys and others in the industry on coping with the demands of the sport.

“I still feel I have a lot to offer racing but in my heart I think it’s more with the work I do counselling and mentoring apprentices and being an ambassador for Racing Mates,” Pat said on Tuesday.

“That’s why when Clapper is finished, I’ll probably finish too.”

Proceeds from the book will be sent to organisations and those in the racing industry who are battling and recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, including through the Racing Mates program.

Don’t Die Wondering – The Pat Webster Story can be purchased online here