Chad Lever had just departed his Hawkesbury base bound for Moruya when he answered his car phone on Sunday morning.

It was way back in 1995 when Steve Hart and former jockey Malcolm Fitzgerald floated the idea of making an annual Christmas visit to the children’s wards at Randwick and Westmead Hospitals.

Larry Cassidy’s the first to admit he enjoyed a charmed run as a professional jockey for the first three decades of his long career.

Ashley Morgan’s caution was evident as he nursed Private Harry through the middle stages of Saturday’s BM72 at Rosehill Gardens. In fact, he still hadn’t moved when they got to the 200m.

Joe Pride has all but given up on trying to outguess Private Eye. The enigmatic but massively talented gelding has had the top trainer scratching his head all through this current preparation.

Ever astute Canberra trainer Keith Dryden has enjoyed many special moments in a career now into its fifth decade.

I gained an early insight into the resilience of Keith Banks during a stint as guest commentator at the 1970 Grafton July Carnival.

Kembla Grange trainer Theresa Bateup readily admits that Crackalacka was no Via Sistina, but an honest mare who endeared herself to every member of the stable staff.

Two key factors paved the way for Kingston Charm’s win in Saturday’s $500,000 Four Pillars Midway at Rosehill Gardens.

I know of nobody more passionate about harness racing than Club Menangle historian and archivist Peter Collier. His passion is exceeded only by his attention to detail and an unfailing sense of history.

It was reasonable to assume the touch of raspiness in Tyler Schiller’s voice on Sunday morning was the result of a little socialising the previous night.

“I watched the Kosciuszko on ground level opposite the winning post with a clear view of the big infield screen,” said David McColm.

Gavin Carmody gained his early media experience as a producer with major Sydney radio stations 2UE and 2GB.

“He’s just now starting to work out why he’s galloping around Sydney racecourses,” said Anthony Cummings. The trainer was referring to Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes winner El Castello, a three year old colt who’s come a long way in a short time.

You might see one or two winners dominate any given race programme, but five “demolition jobs” in one day isn’t common. To see it happen on Epsom day at Randwick, is even less likely.

Dean Mirfin’s TAB Highway win with Marenaro on Saturday took a lot of weight off the shoulders of the Bathurst trainer.

It was a sunny Thursday on September 7th last year when Kerry Parker pulled into the Hawkesbury float parking area with three horses on board his trusty angle loader.

His devoted family and an army of friends always knew the man was widely loved and respected. In the past week they’ve discovered the magnitude of that adoration. Through his childhood years Graham McNeice would have been the kindest kid on the block.

Part owner and trainer Scott Aspery had every reason to feel satisfied as stable favourite Uzziah produced a career best to win the last of ten at Randwick by a big space.

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.