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.
Garry McQuillan has lost a lot of sleep since late October when his beloved Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club was given the green light to stage the opening Country Championship Qualifier for 2023.
Albert Stapleford can’t lay claim to being Australia’s oldest active horse trainer but he’s probably running a close second. There’s a remarkable 95 year old in South Australia called Bob Hannigan.
Now in her fourth decade as a trainer, Helen Page was chuffed to win Saturday’s Sunshine Coast two year old race with Trifling in the colours of long time clients and friends Frank and Christine Cook.
Sydney’s famous Haymarket district was fairly buzzing on Saturday night when Brock Ryan and his partner Madison Waters joined an excited crowd at the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.
The Roman playwright who penned the words “Fortune Favours The Brave” would have been honoured to know that his iconic proverb would still be ringing true on Sydney racecourses more than 2000 years later.
There’s not a race caller on the planet who doesn’t feel some degree of stress before and during the broadcast of a horse race. He desperately wants to get it right for the punters large and small who collectively create huge betting pools.
The practice of trying to forecast winners during the running of races is fraught with danger. Sometimes horses can enjoy a cosy trip and give the impression they have a tankful of petrol, only to be found wanting when they come off the bridle.
Jockeys returning from lengthy injury layoffs are always hopeful of an early win. It’s an accepted practice for owners and trainers to observe the progress of a comeback jockey before making rides available.
Tracey Bartley was quietly chuffed as he loaded Barossa Rosa onto his three horse float for the trip from Wyong to Randwick on Saturday. “She looked so well I was proud to be taking her to the races,” said the multiple Gr 1 winning trainer.
When you run into a horse trainer you haven’t seen for a while, it’s standard practice to inquire about the potential of the horses he or she happens to be training at the time. I posed that exact question to Gary Nickson last May.
Danny Williams was feeling a little sceptical about European horses by the time Marsabit arrived at his Goulburn stables in September of 2021. He’d had two previous involvements with imports for two very unhappy experiences.
Prior to the arrival of Sky Channel’s home service, most trainers would be on track whenever they had horses competing. They communicated with owners before a race, and enjoyed a celebratory drink with them after a win.
Reg was born in Kempsey but spent his early teen years in Coffs Harbour. In 1953 he signed up as an apprentice jockey with Randwick trainer Bert Bellingham whose stables were in Bowral St.
One thousand kilometres away at the Wyong meeting Andrew Adkins watched Jamie’s Gr 1 win on the jockey’s room monitor and no doubt related to the significance of the win.
There were 78,500 people at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day 1976. Those who are still living, carry indelible memories of their visit to the historic course on the day mother nature threw a tantrum.
In view of the fact that Racing NSW allows Canberra trained horses to contest the TAB Highway races, I think it’s fair enough to include ACT trainers in the monthly award calculations.
James Ponsonby’s progress in just over two years as a thoroughbred trainer hasn’t gone unnoticed. The 39 year old spent nineteen successful years as a trainer and driver of harness horses, prior to switching codes in 2017.
This black and white image was presented to John at Edgar’s Avalon home in the late 1990’s. Edgar in fact removed the photo from his personal album. John says the snap was taken at either Bombay or Poona at the height of the racing season.
