Found this one in the shoe box the other day. It was snapped at Kembla Grange in 1971, at a monster charity Sunday gymkhana. Trotting was conducted regularly in those days on a half mile track, situated inside the racecourse.
Champion trainer/driver Vic Frost was kind enough to supply me with a mount, in a novelty race for media representatives. The mare was called Jan’s Daughter, and Vic loaned me a set of his well-known colours. This photo was taken as Vic gave me a briefing, on one or two of the mare’s habits.
These media races were popular in the seventies, and helped raise a lot of money for some worthy charities. They were made possible by the generosity of trainers who supplied the right kind of horses.
Vic Frost was a superstar in trotting’s golden era at Harold Park. He won several premierships, and was a great favourite with the fans. He was the regular driver of Lucky Creed who won a record 24 straight in the 1970’s, including a Miracle Mile. Vic later won the great race on two occasions with Westburn Grant, who also has an Inter Dominion trophy on his CV.
Now 77, Vic lives at Mooball in far northern NSW, and continues to train a handful of horses. When I think of Vic Frost, I think of the help he gave me in running those charity gymkhanas. This photo was taken on one of those wonderful days, many years ago.