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.

This one was snapped by Ron Bickley at a Newcastle meeting in the early seventies. Domestic airline TAA sponsored a race callers day and commentators were flown in from all parts of Australia.

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.

I was lucky enough to win this midweek race at Harold Park on 24/04/1984 on a pacer called Kamath. The driver of the runner up Magnus Cabell was Ms. Kim Moore, today better known as Mrs Kim Waugh, galloping trainer extroardinaire.

We’re unable to comprehensively identify the three gentlemen with the jockey in this Bradley Photographers photo from the 1960’s - I believe their surnames were Ryan, Holmes and Clavelle. We can however officially identify the jockey as Max Lees whose brief but notable riding career was halted by increasing weight in the 1960’s.

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”.

Twenty six years after this photo was taken I’m delighted to report the featured horse is still alive at the remarkable age of 31. Yes it’s Subzero, who only this week has overcome a life threatening illness.

Steve Hart came up with this one recently - a snap of two of the most influential people in Australian racing in the 20th Century.

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 week’s Friday Flashback shows a pacer called Pick On (Percy Hall) winning a qualifying division of the 1952 Inter Dominion Championship at Harold Park. Note the “snug” hopple length on a horse who stood close to 17 hands.

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.

Looking back on a fifty year involvement with harness racing, I’ve never had a bigger thrill than this.

This shot was taken at a Bathurst charity gymkhana in the early 1970’s, and I got to drive one of my all time favourite harness horses in a stallion parade.

It’s no surprise a bloke who dressed like this in the 1960’s would later train a horse called Sir Dapper.

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.

What a thrill it was to join Bart Cummings and Roy Higgins for an Australia Post promotion on a non race day at Randwick in 2007.

Steve Hart snapped this one at Rosehill around 1990 as respected trainer Ray Guy spoke with AJC Chairman of Stewards John Schreck.

I’m a little late with this one, but I’d like to add my tribute to the many already posted for the gallant Dunaden. Steve Hart was at Flemington to capture this image of two great warriors going head and head to the line in the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

Bradley Photographers caught this special moment at Randwick during the Royal visit of 1992. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth renewed acquaintances with former top jockey Edgar Britt, who had ridden extensively for the Royal family in Britain in the late 1940’s.