IT took right up until the end of his career but Forbes trainer Robert Lee ensured his name will go down in the record books on Sunday after training a winner at Dubbo.

A 12-metre win by $6.70 chance Sure What Ever may not look like much on paper but, at 83, the victory made Lee the oldest trainer in NSW to ever record a winner.

While that in itself is an incredible achievement, the fact the veteran trainer has not renewed his licence for the new season, which began on Monday, makes it all the more memorable.

“It’s pretty special,” Lee’s grandson and fellow trainer Jason Gaffney said.

“He went up against the likes of Tony Turnbull and saw what he did, and now he’s still trained a winner after those guys have retired, and that makes him puff his chest out a bit.

“The best bit is he’ll be remembered for something now. He always wondered if he’d get that great horse or win but his name will go down in the books now.”

Lee did not make the trip to Dubbo with Gaffney, admitting the wet and cold conditions were a bit too miserable for his grandfather.

Driver Mat Rue produced an impeccable drive and guided the five-year-old to an 11.8-metre victory after sitting one out, one back in fourth place for most of the journey in the Radio 2DU Pace (2120m).

The amount of people trying to call Lee back at Forbes after the race to pass on their congratulations made it almost impossible for them to get through.

It was the perfect way to bring an end to his training career and Gaffney admitted his “pop” was the biggest reason he and his cousin Murray Sullivan got into the game.

“He’s pretty passionate about it, he’s 83 now and started learning from his uncle, and he and Nan have been going ever since,” he said.

“They had seven daughters but Murray’s mum and my mum were the only ones who have followed on and we’re all still heavily involved, but he’s the main reason we’re in it. 

“He’s had a massive influence on us.”

Gaffney would have had the drive on Sunday but Sure What Ever threw him from the gig recently, resulting in Gaffney having to spend some time in hospital with busted ribs and five stitches in his leg.

While he was not there to drive the winner, he was still delighted for the man he plans on getting advice from well into the future.