Archard prepared more than 200 winners during a career that spanned more than four decades.
One of his greatest triumphs came when Leveraction won the 2016 Echuca Cup.
“Marvellous. Probably one of my bigger thrills,” Archard said after Leveraction’s victory.
“It’s always nice to win your home-town cup, but to do it with this horse was really special for me.
“We only paid $4000 for him out of Queensland.
“They had a bar on him up there — they didn’t tell me they had a bar on him — when they brought him down, they said he was a bit of a barrier rogue.
“I thought, ‘Gee, what are we in for here?’
“He’s never put a foot wrong since he’s been here, he’s just been a marvel.”
The jockey who partnered Leveraction to success that memorable May day, Brooke Sweeney, led the tributes.
“RIP to one of my biggest supporters while race riding in Daryl Archard,” Sweeney penned on social media.
“From winner at Deniliquin to Flemington and being a part of the team with Leveraction as Country Racehorse of the Year.
“Thank you for all the fun times and support.”
Great horse: Leveraction won the 2016 Echuca Cup for Brooke Sweeney and Daryl Archard. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Photo by
Sitthixay Ditthavong
Racing Victoria chief executive officer Andrew Jones highlighted Archard’s contribution to the thoroughbred racing industry.
“On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Daryl’s family and friends following the sad news of his passing,” Mr Jones said.
“Daryl was a popular member of the Echuca training community where his son Rhys carries on the family name as a licensed trainer.
“We know Daryl will be deeply missed by his family and all in racing who knew him over a career that spanned more than 45 years as a trainer in Victoria.”
Echuca Racing Club said Archard’s loss would be heavily felt.
“The Echuca Racing Club committee and staff is deeply saddened by the passing of local trainer Daryl Archard,” the club said.
“Daryl will be greatly missed on and around racecourses across Victoria and Southern NSW.”
Mark Pegus said his career would not have been as successful without Archard’s support.
“He was a very respected horseman and just a lovely bloke,” Pegus told racing.com
“He’s one bloke I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about.
“Daryl never ever even complained. You’d give one a bad ride and he’d just shake his head and say ‘bad luck’ and walk away.”
Leveraction delivered many great days for the stable, emerging from a Class 2 to country cup specialist under Archard’s tutelage.
He first gave notice of things to come by winning the 2013 Corowa Cup with a young Jye McNeil in the saddle.
The son of Top Echelon won the 2015 Gunbower Cup, having finished runner-up in that race the previous year.
He finished a career highlighted by 13 wins and 24 minor placings from 78 starts in rare form.
Leveraction led all the way to hold off Street Sense and Don’t Get Excited in a thrilling 2016 Echuca Cup.
He then won at Flemington 13 days later at 40-1 and had his swansong when second in the Provincial Plate.
Section was another top-shelf galloper for the stable, with 10 wins and 11 minor placings from 40 starts.
In 1995, he won the Swan Hill and Benalla Cups, finished runner-up to Coachwood in the Geelong Cup and placed fourth behind Pindi in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The next year saw Section runner-up in the Group 3 West End Draught Stakes (2500m) at Morphettville, fourth in the Group 1 Adelaide Cup won by French Resort and wins at Flemington and Caulfield.
That set the scene for his biggest career success in the Listed J.R.A Cup at Moonee Valley in September 1996.
Blue Jangles won the 2018 Marong and St Arnaud Cups, while another stable favourite was the versatile Produced.
Produced won 17 races, including two wins in Adelaide, one at Moonee Valley, and Cup wins at Jerilderie and Griffith.
The New Zealand-bred son of No Excuses Needed, also ran second in a Golden Topaz at Swan Hill, a venue he enjoyed success at three times.
Despite a long battle with illness, Archard trained in partnership with son Rhys.
His final winner came when Vandelle, with Tom Prebble, saluted at Kyneton on April 22.
Barmah Al carried Archard’s renowned navy blue and white colours to a gallant fourth at Tatura on Friday.
A beloved husband and father, Archard is survived by wife Debbie, son Rhys and daughter Bo.