Des Hoysted
- March 25, 2010
- 87 years
About Des Hoysted
Des Hoysted, 87, Australian radio broadcaster and horse racing commentator.
Explore other notable deaths in 2010 or deaths in March 2010.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Des Hoysted?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Des Hoysted (1923 – 25 March 2010) was an Australian radio broadcaster and horse racing identity. He was a racecaller for 51 years in what is widely regarded as the golden era of the Australian turf.
Hoysted called his first race on Boxing Day in 1948 at Wodonga, Victoria, and then joined the ABC in Melbourne as an understudy to Joe Brown. He moved to 2GB in 1952, but made his mark in 1959 when he joined 2UE. He called 20 Melbourne Cups for 2UE and only finished there when the radio station ceased broadcasting the races in 1983.
For many years, Hoysted continued to work around Sydney racetracks, mainly as a broadcast advisor, bon vivant, and tent tipper. He unofficially retired from the track in 2001.
He died at the age of 87, on 25 March 2010 in a Sydney nursing home, survived by his wife, Pat, and children Raymond and Joanne.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Des Hoysted on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Hoysted
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Des Hoysted's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was Des Hoysted's primary profession?
- A.Journalism editor
- B.Racehorse trainer
- C.Professional athlete
- D.Radio broadcastercorrect
Des Hoysted was an Australian radio broadcaster and horse racing identity.
Source: introductory paragraph
2.In what year did Des Hoysted pass away?
- A.2010correct
- B.1983
- C.2001
- D.2012
Des Hoysted died on 25 March 2010.
Source: final paragraph
3.Where did Des Hoysted call his first race?
- A.Sydney, New South Wales
- B.Wodonga, Victoriacorrect
- C.Melbourne, Victoria
- D.Brisbane, Queensland
Des Hoysted called his first race on Boxing Day in 1948 at Wodonga, Victoria.
Source: early career section
4.Who did Des Hoysted serve as an understudy to while at the ABC in Melbourne?
- A.Raymond Hoysted
- B.Pat Hoysted
- C.Joe Browncorrect
- D.Joanne Hoysted
Des Hoysted joined the ABC in Melbourne as an understudy to Joe Brown.
Source: early career section
5.In what year did Des Hoysted join 2UE?
- A.1948
- B.1983
- C.1959correct
- D.1952
Des Hoysted made his mark in 1959 when he joined 2UE.
Source: career path section
6.How many years did Des Hoysted work as a racecaller?
- A.51 yearscorrect
- B.60 years
- C.20 years
- D.45 years
Des Hoysted was a racecaller for 51 years.
Source: introductory paragraph
7.How many Melbourne Cups did Des Hoysted call for 2UE?
- A.10
- B.25
- C.15
- D.20correct
Des Hoysted called 20 Melbourne Cups for 2UE.
Source: career path section
8.Why did Des Hoysted finish his tenure at 2UE in 1983?
- A.The radio station ceased broadcasting the racescorrect
- B.He reached the mandatory retirement age
- C.He moved to a competing television station
- D.He decided to pursue a political career
Des Hoysted only finished at 2UE when the radio station ceased broadcasting the races in 1983.
Source: career path section
9.What roles did Des Hoysted fulfill at Sydney racetracks after his primary broadcasting career?
- A.Gatekeeper, janitor, and groom
- B.Broadcast advisor, bon vivant, and tent tippercorrect
- C.Security officer, bookie, and trainer
- D.Track manager, coach, and jockey
Des Hoysted worked around Sydney racetracks as a broadcast advisor, bon vivant, and tent tipper.
Source: later career section
10.In what year did Des Hoysted unofficially retire from the track?
- A.2010
- B.1999
- C.2001correct
- D.1983
Des Hoysted unofficially retired from the track in 2001.
Source: later career section
11.At what age did Des Hoysted pass away?
- A.85
- B.87correct
- C.90
- D.80
Des Hoysted died at the age of 87.
Source: final paragraph
12.Who survived Des Hoysted?
- A.His brothers and sisters
- B.Only his wife Pat
- C.His wife Pat and children Raymond and Joannecorrect
- D.His wife Joanne and children Pat and Raymond
Des Hoysted was survived by his wife, Pat, and children Raymond and Joanne.
Source: final paragraph
13.What radio station did Des Hoysted move to in 1952?
- A.2UE
- B.ABC
- C.4BC
- D.2GBcorrect
Des Hoysted moved to 2GB in 1952.
Source: early career section
14.On what specific day was Des Hoysted's first race call held?
- A.New Year's Day
- B.Easter Sunday
- C.Anzac Day
- D.Boxing Daycorrect
Des Hoysted called his first race on Boxing Day in 1948.
Source: early career section
15.Where did Des Hoysted die?
- A.His private residence in Melbourne
- B.A nursing home in Sydneycorrect
- C.A hospital in Melbourne
- D.A racecourse in Wodonga
Des Hoysted died in a Sydney nursing home.
Source: final paragraph
16.What is the era of the Australian turf associated with Des Hoysted's career?
- A.The industrial era
- B.The golden eracorrect
- C.The digital era
- D.The experimental era
Des Hoysted was a racecaller for 51 years in what is widely regarded as the golden era of the Australian turf.
Source: introductory paragraph
Explore the archive
People who died on March 25
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Des Hoysted →Advertisement
