Steve Hart keeps coming up with these wonderful “blasts from the past “. Here’s one in the Randwick birdcage in the Spring of 1990 shortly before Stargazer’s win in the Frank Packer Plate.
Shadea didn’t turn too many heads as Wayne Harris brought her back to scale after winning the 1991 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Rosehill - one of only two wins for the plain, lightly framed filly.
I never saw Shannon in action, but several veteran horsemen told me over the years that his second placing in the 1946 Epsom was the greatest performance ever seen over the Randwick mile.
This one was snapped shortly after the conclusion of the 1977 Melbourne Cup presentation. Bart Cummings is clutching his sixth trainer’s trophy and was caught in conversation with Sir John Kerr.
Another lovely print taken from an original oil painting by renowned equine artist Alister Simpson A.A.E.A. This is Durbridge captured on canvas shortly after his win in the 1991 AJC Derby. Alister provided a great likeness of the stallion, and his jockey Greg Hall.
Bradley Photographers snapped this one of W.A. “Billy” Smith at Randwick in May of 1965. Bill was one of the most popular jockeys of his era, and one of the lightest. He rode at a featherweight for his entire career, which brought him many opportunities in big races.
This magnificent print of Universal Prince was taken from an original oil painting by renowned equine artist Alister Simpson A.A.E.A, shortly after the 2001 AJC Derby.
Saturday September 5th 1998 saw the introduction of Sky Channel’s long awaited home service. We sought the reaction of many racing personalities on the day and as always Gai Waterhouse was happy to talk to us.
The Australian racing industry was stunned by the loss of Ken Russell who lost his life in a freakish race fall at Rosehill on October 9th 1993, aged 42.
Bart Cummings was 37 years of age and still training exclusively out of Adelaide. He opened his Flemington stables in 1968, but it wasn’t until 1975 that he established a Randwick operation to be known as “Leilani Lodge”.
Steve Hart stumbled upon this one on his database the other day and was kind enough to send it to me. Steve snapped this photo around 1986 and it shows Neville Begg, then in his mid fifties with a lovely little mare called Heat Of The Moment.
This one was snapped at a Parramatta Hotel in 1994. A large group of race callers assembled for the official launch of a new book called “London to a brick on” - a salute to Australian race calling.
It’s a complete mystery how this photo finished up on Mark Bradley’s database, but he found it recently and was kind enough to pass it on. We believe the picture was taken at Randwick in the late 19th century, featuring the leading trainers and jockeys of the day.
It’s a Tattersall’s Club meeting at Randwick on Sat.13th September 1952. The infield “Flat” enclosure was enormously popular in those days and greatly enhanced the atmosphere.
Veteran racing people will recognize Doug Weir, a jockey who struggled in the early part of his career before linking up with trainer Jack Denham who took him to another level.
