Great to sit alongside Clarry Conners at a Smithfield RSL “Men Of League” fundraising luncheon last week. The champion trainer told me two things of interest over lunch.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing late last week, of Ern McQuillan OAM. The former celebrated photographer, had been suffering the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, and slipped away peacefully at the Barclay Gardens Aged Care Facility at Forster, on the NSW mid north coast.
EXCUSE ME, WHICH WAY TO RANDWICK ?
THAT O’HARA GIRL
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING. The Larry Cassidy Story
When Larry Cassidy had his one and only ride on Winx, in the Sunshine Coast Guineas on May 16th 2015, he knew he’d had a brush with equine royalty. Going into the race he probably thought she was a pretty good three year old filly, but the fact that she’d already been beaten six times, eliminated any “air of invincibility”.
TO A RACING FAN A SET OF COLOURS CAN BRING ON THE NOSTALGIA
TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO
SYDNEY OR THE BUSH
THE MORE VIOLENT THE STORM THE QUICKER IT PASSES
'STUBBY'S' THE HOLDER OF 5 JOCKEY'S TITLES AND HE'S NOT DONE YET!
MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS
I’m a keen watcher of Sky’s harness racing coverage on Saturday nights, which incorporates all races from Clifford Park, Toowoomba. For several years now, I’ve been aware of the impressive strike rate of jockey Skye Bogenhuber. Rarely does a meeting go by that she doesn’t win at least one race, while doubles and trebles are common.
RACING ROYALTY
IT'S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY
I was reminded of Matthew Smith’s background, as his 5 year old gelding Plymouth Road led all the way to win the 2400 metres BM 82 at Randwick on Saturday. Matthew was born and reared at Wangaratta in Victoria, which boasts one of the oldest country racetracks in Australia(1855). His Dad Christopher was a member of the Wangaratta Turf Club Committee, and a keen racehorse owner.
THEY SAY THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A RACECOURSE CERTAINTY, BUT THEY WERE WRONG!
How often have you heard hackneyed clichés like “this is unbeatable” or “this is a good thing”, being bandied about at the track or the TAB outlet. We can’t include Winx or Black Caviar in this exercise, but I’m referring to horses who look near certainties, provided everything goes right in the run. One sprang instantly to mind, and that was an imported English horse called Marooned in 1986.
MAKE 'EM LAUGH - A TRIBUTE TO BERT BRYANT
Most race callers are so intent on getting the job done accurately, they wouldn’t give a thought to throwing in a funny line. That kind of commentary wouldn’t have suited the late Bert Bryant, who died in 1991 following several years of indifferent health. Bert believed that punters having a bad day, needed some cheering up, and he set about developing an array of “one liners” designed to take the pain out of losing your money.
THE MIND OF A JOCKEY INSIDE THE BODY OF A RUGBY LEAGUE HALF BACK
DARE TO DREAM
HOT UNDER THE COLLAR
The scuffle between trainer Richard Laming and jockey Noel Callow at the Cranbourne trials recently, left both participants a little lighter in the pocket. Stewards ruled that Laming instigated the incident, and fined him a hefty $2500. Despite the fact that Callow retaliated with a left rip to the body, he was fined a more lenient $300.