This statue is located in the Lions Park near the northern entrance to town. The bronze statue was unveiled in 2016 during an official tour of the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup and replaced an earlier one that was deteriorating. It symbolises the life of Kenny Russell, a local and world renowned jockey who sadly lost his life in a race fall at Rosehill in October of 1993. Ken was born in Monto on 5th October, 1951. He was educated at both the local primary school and high school. Ken loved all sports but showed an affinity for horse racing from an early age. Ken shared this interest with his father Gordon, who was first a jockey and then a trainer. Ken’s racing career began on the Monto race track and continued on other local race tracks before racing in Rockhampton, on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and finally as a top international jockey using Sydney as his base.
The statue was commissioned by the Monto Rotary Club in conjunction with the North Burnett Regional Council and RADF.