There were 78,500 people at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day 1976. Those still living, hold indelible memories of their visit to the historic course on the day mother nature threw a tantrum.
Steve Hart indicated he would step up his racing interview quota following his recent retirement from the ranks of Sydney race day photographers. He wasted no time in lining up a chat with 22 year old Mollie Fitzgerald.
He stands barely fifteen hands, he’s athletic without being robust and he sure as hell doesn’t win out of turn. In fact, Fox Fighter’s victory in Saturday’s BM88 at the ‘Hill was his first in twenty one months.
Those who envisaged Gary Portelli celebrating Kimochi’s Randwick stakes win over a sumptuous dinner and a bottle of champagne, couldn’t have been more mistaken.
On the eve of his 27th birthday and blessed with the luxury of having no need for the sauna, Andrew Adkins has slipped into a comfortable niche among Sydney’s riding ranks.
Brett Bellamy’s six win haul on northern tracks brings him the Pryde’s monthly award. The Coffs Harbour trainer kicked off his winning sequence with a double at Grafton on July 7th.
Steve Hart has captured many magic moments during his long career as a Sydney race day photographer. Nowadays he’s making his mark as an interviewer of some of racing’s most interesting personalities.
“I started to get excited when he cruised up alongside the favourite In Flight at the top of the straight, but I still needed to see what I know he’s capable of,” said Brad Widdup
I remember the night I met David Morrow as though it were yesterday. Unbelievably it was fifty years ago. I have no idea why I was at the Bathurst Leagues Club early on a hot Sunday evening, but thirst may have had something to do with it.
“That horse has been up longer than the Sydney Harbour Bridge,” quipped a Randwick punter, as One Destiny made it three from his last four in Saturday’s 1100m BM78.
Six winners in a month is a great achievement for any country stable. Dwayne Schmidt’s June sextet came about largely through his utter frustration with the endless wet weather in northern NSW.
Any jockey resuming after an injury enforced layoff prays for an early winner. Owners and trainers like to watch the comeback rider for a few weeks to ensure that his or her confidence hasn’t been affected by the trauma of a racing accident.
Race photographer Steve Hart recently visited the central coast property where Charlie Brister plies his trade as one of Sydney’s most respected breakers.
With rarely more than fifteen horses in work at his long-time Hawkesbury base, Terry Croft doesn’t expect to win premierships. He’s happy to simply identify the capabilities of every horse that comes his way, and leave no stone unturned in finding the right races for them.
