Ian Verning doesn’t mind his life long nickname of “Spud” although he is frustrated by the fact that he has no idea of its origins. The name was created by fellow pupils at the Kootingal School on the outskirts of Tamworth in the early 1950’s and has stood the test of time. As far as he can recall there was no real reason for the creation of the name. One of his schoolmates came out with it one day, the others liked it and he’s been “Spud” ever since. I was reminded of the legendary status of his nickname at a recent Tamworth funeral service for my old and dear friend Mike Rushbrook. As mourners gathered outside the chapel following the ceremony, I was approached by a sprightly veteran who simply said “G’Day mate I’m “Spud” Verning”. He didn’t need to say another word. I knew I was talking to a local trotting legend.
Exactly a decade has passed since Ian (I won’t use his real name again) Verning drove his final winner Alyeska Dream in a CO/C1 event at Tamworth. His last race drive came just under twelve months later when he finished second on the same mare at an Armidale Sunday meeting. “I was pretty miffed when the stewards blamed me for minor interference on the hometurn and gave me fourteen days,” said “Spud”. “I never drove in a race again but continued to train until about five years ago. Like many before me I’ve been unable to get it out of my system. I still enjoy driving fast work for Dean Chapple at the Moonbi training circuit three mornings a week. I also put in several hours a week assisting thoroughbred trainer Michelle Fleming who does a great job with her horses.”
Spud drives a galloping pacemaker in front of a hoppled pacer driven by Dean Chapple at the Moonbi Recreation Ground - courtesy PeterMac Photography.
It’s appropriate that “Spud” should still be spending time at Moonbi, the place of his birth seventy eight years ago. His father Percy was a local poultry farmer who successfully trained greyhounds in the spare time he had available. His interest in harness racing developed only when his son became involved in the sport. An active and healthy lifestyle obviously agreed with Percy Verning who died at the remarkable age of 98 around ten years ago.
Spud’s interest in harness horses was generated by a veteran hobby trainer called Neville Brown. “He actually worked for the Egg Board and I got to know him in my role as a truck driver for a company called Brazel McDonald,” said Spud. “He was a good all round horseman even to the point of shoeing his own horses. I actually bought a cheap horse called Glossy Silver from a man called Alf Streeting, and Neville let me keep him at his Showground stables. Between Glossy Silver and Neville’s handful of horses I soon learned the basics, and before long I was driving fast work and getting keener by the minute. Neville was the bloke to get me started. I worked the rest out as I went along.”
Spud Verning was twenty four years old and still driving trucks for Brazel McDonald when he decided to hobby train a horse called Dale’s Venture for local enthusiast Alan Bellamy. “It was an exciting day when I won my first race as a trainer and driver on Dale’s Venture at the Tamworth Showground,” said Spud. “After my father passed I found several boxes containing race books he’d saved over a period of forty years. It was a special moment when I found the book from that big day in 1969. I never considered trying to make a living as a full time trainer. I drove trucks for forty five years and rarely had more than five horses in work. There were some very long days but it was the only way to go.”
Spud was a great favourite with the Tamworth punters for several decades.
Spud Verning has no idea of his career win tally, but believes he won the north western NSW trainer and driver premiership four times. He recalls winning at least one premiership at each of the four tracks in his local region - Tamworth, Armidale, Narrabri and Inverell. “In the early days there were very few meetings in the north west,” recalled Spud. “We had a long winter recess and even when the racing season was in full swing we’d sometimes go a fortnight without a meeting in the area. You had to keep your horses ticking over and hope they didn’t get away from you. Nowadays there are thirty five meetings a year at Tamworth. Inverell no longer hold meetings while Armidale and Narrabri are down to two a year.”
The road trip from Tamworth to Harold Park in the 70’s and 80’s was a very arduous one for horses and handlers. Spud needed to be firmly convinced that he had the right horse, before even contemplating the journey. His judgement was vindicated more often than not. He’s never forgotten the first time he took Leica Light to headquarters for a Country Championship 2YO Final. “I was stabled between Markovina and Eva Thor,” he recalled. “Markovina was an Inter Dominion winner and Eva Thor was a top Harold Park mare for John Binskin. I later decided to leave Leica Light with John when I suspected the horse wasn’t handling the long trip as well as I’d hoped. John won four straight with him at Harold Park but sadly he pulled up with suspensory ligament trouble after the fourth one.”
Spud with his all time favourite Leica Light.
Leica Light was retired to the Myuna Stud at Uralla on the NSW Northern Tablelands where he served twenty mares in what was to be his only season at stud. The stallion had to be put down after suffering horrific neck injuries in a freakish paddock accident. Fittingly Spud got to train Leica Light’s talented daughter Aciel Lass who raced consistently throughout a thirty start career which yielded nine wins and nine placings. “There may have been another country winner or two among his only foal crop, but Aciel Lass was the best,” said Spud.
The first time Spud subjected Ainsley Dillon to the endless journey to Harold Park, he was supremely confident she’d measure up in a 2YO Fillies Sires Stakes Final. He drove the filly himself and gave her every chance before finishing second to a very smart one in Teramby Princess from the Brian Hancock stable. Like Leica Light, Ainsley Dillon didn’t appreciate the long road trip which prompted Spud to again enlist the services of John Binskin. The master horseman put together some notable wins with Ainsley Dillon in races like the Jack ‘N’ Jill Stakes at Harold Park, the Princess Mile at Fairfield, the Penrith Oaks, the Bankstown Oaks, a heat of the Victorian Oaks and an unplaced performance in the final when she failed to get clear running in the straight. Once again Spud Vernon’s astute judgement was right on the mark.
Another of Spud’s favourites was Black Pine Lady, a mare purchased from a Narrandera stud farm as a yearling by locals Gerry and Joe Cannon and Trevor Maher. She found her way into Spud’s stables after a short stint with Sydney trainer Ron Mannix and became a prolific winner on country tracks. Perhaps she’s best remembered by older trots fans for her much publicised match race with another local idol in Tosca Eagle. There had been great rivalry between the two pacers at north western meetings for some time and the Tamworth Harness Racing Club decided to run with the promotion on a $1000 winner take all basis - a respectable incentive in the 1980’s. Black Pine Lady had the sit on Tosca Eagle throughout and was too strong in the closing stages. With the support of local media the promotion was a great success. Spud reminded me that the bonny mare also won a stand start event at Harold Park.
Another Tamworth win for Spud with Crystal River.
“Spud” Verning’s talents are well remembered by older harness racing followers. One of his long time fans is Mark Lowe, a former Secretary Manager and Vice President of the Tamworth Harness Racing Club. Mark retains his involvement with the THRC by conducting on- track interviews with every winning driver. He rates Verning among the best horsemen he’s seen in the north western region. “He was a wonderful judge of pace and always hard to beat if he got to the front on the right horse,” said Mark. “The thing I remember most about “Spud” was his composure. He refused to be flustered under any circumstances. He was the same on the few occasions he drove at Harold Park. He was unquestionably one of the best harness horsemen to ever compete in this region.”
A bittersweet occasion for Spud who was 68 when he drove his final winner - Alyeska Dream at Tamworth 2013 - courtesy PeterMac Photography.
“Spud” didn’t get it all his own way on the local circuit. He had healthy respect for a couple of rival drivers who were several years his senior at the time. “John Menzies was a first class driver and always hard to beat,” says Spud. “He got plenty of practice at the top level driving the great mare Rachel McGregor at Harold Park in the 1960’s. He actually drove her in the very first Miracle Mile won by Robin Dundee. Is it any wonder he was so full of confidence driving in a Beginner’s Hcp at Tamworth.
“Colin Hobday was another very good driver in this region. If you heard one coming fast in the closing stages it was often Col’s horse. He hasn’t driven in races for quite a few years now, but was still training only a year or two back. Both Col and John Menzies are now in their twilight years looking back on the days when they were among the best in the business.”
Spud was dealt a devastating blow early this year when his wife Pam succumbed to multiple health issues. Pam was his staunchest supporter through fifty six years of marriage, and a great friend to the Tamworth Harness Racing Club. She filled several casual roles over the years, but was perhaps best known for her efficiency in serving meals in the dining room on race days. Pam Verning is greatly missed by a legion of friends.
Spud is blessed with good health as evidenced by his continued attendance at the Moonbi training track. He attributes some of his agility to the fact that he suffered few injuries during his long career in the sulky. “I got tipped out a few times with marginal damage but there was one good buster at Tamworth about ten years ago,” he said. “Half the field ran over me and left me with a broken wrist and four cracked ribs. I was in my late sixties then and knew I’d had a fall. That one slowed me up for a while.”
Spud sports all of the correct gear during trackwork sessions at Moonbi - courtesy PeterMac Photography.
They say reputations don’t just happen, they have to be earned - a famous quote which sums up the life and professional career of the man whose nickname has followed him around for seven decades. If you happen to get into a conversation with trot fans about the best country drivers in recent history, don’t waste your time calling him Ian Verning. Just call him Spud and you’ll get instant response. Many bush trots fans will have him among the top half dozen.
A Tamworth win with Local Lil. The crowds were healthy in the 70s and 80s.
(Banner image - Spud parades after driving his final winner Alyeska Dream at Tamworth 2013 - courtesy PeterMac Photography.)