Thoroughbred racing

[RemoteTiger]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Thanks Blood_17 - I remember Manikato and Vain - Kingston Town (when the great Bill Collins when calling the WS Cox Plate said Kingston Town cannot win from there - and he did. Plus Gurners Lane getting that salloon inside passage to pip the King on the line in the cup).

My father who is no longer with us, always said it was a toss up between Tullock and Bernborough when asked the best horse he had seen. He would say Tullock was a freak and Bernborough ran him to a photo.

When discussion focused on Bernborough he claims Athol George Mulley slaughtered him in the Caulfield Cup and ran him into more dead ends than ya see in a suburb full of coldesacs.

Athol George lost the sight from one eye and couldn't ride any more - became a trainer up here in Canberra - don't know where he is now.

I hope you don't mind me bringing up the past - racing just seemed to have more appeal back then with all its different characters and champions - whereas today it is so clinical and rigid that it has lost some of its traditional appeal IMO.

Back then - the scribes would pen picture a race in their columns with flair and colour - the media today is cold and calculating appearing to look only for the $$$$ side of the story.

This will bring back a memory for you -

Dad use to always put my zac or 5 cents bets on for me until 1968 when at the age of 14 I placed my first bet with a bookie at the Canberra Track - I had a deener eachway on Bunratty Castle to win the Caulfield Cup. When I went to collect the bookie looked over his reading glasses at me and said "How old are you son?" I replied "Old enough to pick a winner and collect!" I grabbed my collect and shot through never went near that bookie for 4 years until I was 18yo.......

Bet you have better and more interesting stories too Blood. If you ever have a spare moment on your hands and you would like to share a couple I know I would enjoy reading them - and I bet there would be other PRE readers who would enjoy them too........cheers RT

 

[Blood_17]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I really appreciate your comments and news, Remote. I'm afraid I didn't write very much to answer your questions, but as you suggested, I have decades of snippets that I kept on my computer. I've told Rosy about these and she could tell you all about it. I didn't see the 1946 Caulfield Cup, won by my all-time favourite horse Royal Gem with 9 stone. The argument may always go on about Athol Mulley's ride on Bernborough, who ran on for a gallant fifth. Watching the video replay many times, I feel Bernborough had his chance....but that's just my opinion.

Thanks again.

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Thanks Blood_17 - I remember Manikato and Vain - Kingston Town (when the great Bill Collins when calling the WS Cox Plate said Kingston Town cannot win from there - and he did. Plus Gurners Lane getting that salloon inside passage to pip the King on the line in the cup).

My father who is no longer with us, always said it was a toss up between Tullock and Bernborough when asked the best horse he had seen. He would say Tullock was a freak and Bernborough ran him to a photo.

When discussion focused on Bernborough he claims Athol George Mulley slaughtered him in the Caulfield Cup and ran him into more dead ends than ya see in a suburb full of coldesacs.

Athol George lost the sight from one eye and couldn't ride any more - became a trainer up here in Canberra - don't know where he is now.

I hope you don't mind me bringing up the past - racing just seemed to have more appeal back then with all its different characters and champions - whereas today it is so clinical and rigid that it has lost some of its traditional appeal IMO.

Back then - the scribes would pen picture a race in their columns with flair and colour - the media today is cold and calculating appearing to look only for the $$$$ side of the story.

This will bring back a memory for you -

Dad use to always put my zac or 5 cents bets on for me until 1968 when at the age of 14 I placed my first bet with a bookie at the Canberra Track - I had a deener eachway on Bunratty Castle to win the Caulfield Cup. When I went to collect the bookie looked over his reading glasses at me and said "How old are you son?" I replied "Old enough to pick a winner and collect!" I grabbed my collect and shot through never went near that bookie for 4 years until I was 18yo.......

Bet you have better and more interesting stories too Blood. If you ever have a spare moment on your hands and you would like to share a couple I know I would enjoy reading them - and I bet there would be other PRE readers who would enjoy them too........cheers RT

Your old man was right about the mighty Tulloch.

Top jocks GM, AGM, Roy the Boy. Dittman. Favourite personality Mick Mallyon.

Top trainers TJ Smith(young horses, sprinters), JBC(patience, stayers), Colin Hayes(all round)

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Remote, to answer some more questions.....

The best horses I saw over different distances:

5f. Biscay and Misting, both flew out of the barrier and were rarely headed.

6f. Todman, Manikato, Vain.

7f. Todman, Manikato, Vain, Aquanita.

8f. Not sure, will think a lot more yet.

9f. Tulloch, Kingston Town, Lord.

10f. Lord was certainly one of the best. Tulloch, Kingston Town.

12f: Tulloch, Kingston Town.

2m: Rising Fast, Galilee, Empire Rose (a favourite of mine). Many others though. Tulloch would have won the 1960 Melbourne Cup with 10 stone 1 pound if Neville Sellwood hadn't slaughtered him. His fast-finishing seventh was tremendous after being ridden like a camel.

Best jockeys: Darby Munro, Geoff Lane (better than his rival Roy Higgins), Harry White (on stayers), Bill Williamson, Johnny Miller, Ron Hutchinson....many more. Ron Hall and Ron Lindsay the best over jumps.

Best grey galloper: Gunsynd

Thanks for a wonderful post B17. It rekindles some great memories. Here's a couple:-

Tulloch........ my first "sporting hero". His clashes with Todman. His brilliant win as a 3 year old in the Caulfield Cup. The debate over whether he should run in the Melbourne Cup. Waiting 23 months to see if he survived his illness, let alone race again. Winning his comeback race. Winning his final race in Brisbane when very few rated him a real chance......... listening to the radio, whipping him home(it was allowed back then LOL), cheering and crying tears of joy when he saluted.

Galilee......... after he won the Sydney, Caulfied and Melbourne Cups in the same year my old man said "that puts him up there with the all-time greats. I doubt it will ever be done again". I don't believe it has either.

Manikato........ first time I saw him race live was at Flemington. I was on the fence way past the winning post so the view was basically head-on. What an awesome sight as he thundered through the centre. It was clear he'd won but my lasting memory is of his massive chest(width and depth). He was all power!

Gunsynd....... what a sight and a personality! One of my favourite lookers was a horse called Black Onyx. I picked him out as a 2 year old, based on looks. He was a black with white splashes when he started out and ended up more white with black/grey markings. Never a champion but was a joy to follow as well as a handy return on the punt.

 

[Blood_17]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Thank you, Hayfever. You brought back some memories for me. Black Onyx was my favourite horse racing at the time too. What Manikato did with his wonky legs was absolutely remarkable. His trainer Bob Hoysted spent many hours a week looking after Manikato's joints, keeping the giant gelding going for many years of high class sprinting. Bart Cummings still regards Galilee as the best stayer he's trained....Galilee also won the Toorak Handicap over a mile before the Caulfield Cup. I recall Gunsynd would stop at the entrance to the racetrack, just to gaze around at the crowd. His jockey couldn't make him move for several minutes each time. My all-time vivid memory is watching Tulloch making his comeback over 1-1/4 miles at Flemington after his near-death illness. Tulloch and the wfa champion Lord matched stride for stride all the way up the straight with the people yelling their heads off. Tulloch was dwarfed by Lord but stuck his head out to win.

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Thank you, Hayfever. You brought back some memories for me. Black Onyx was my favourite horse racing at the time too. What Manikato did with his wonky legs was absolutely remarkable. His trainer Bob Hoysted spent many hours a week looking after Manikato's joints, keeping the giant gelding going for many years of high class sprinting. Bart Cummings still regards Galilee as the best stayer he's trained....Galilee also won the Toorak Handicap over a mile before the Caulfield Cup. I recall Gunsynd would stop at the entrance to the racetrack, just to gaze around at the crowd. His jockey couldn't make him move for several minutes each time. My all-time vivid memory is watching Tulloch making his comeback over 1-1/4 miles at Flemington after his near-death illness. Tulloch and the wfa champion Lord matched stride for stride all the way up the straight with the people yelling their heads off. Tulloch was dwarfed by Lord but stuck his head out to win.

I envy you being there. I've got shivers down my spine just visualising it from the radio call.

Here's a picture of Tulloch

Pleased to hear we shared similar enjoyment re Black Onyx. Google is a marvellous tool. A quick search shows he won consecutive Doomben Ten Thousands(like Falvelon and Apache Cat), the AJC Sires Produce, Newmarket(record weight), Lightning and the Tramway so he was no slouch.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Picked up 55% of yesterday's quaddie. Good times. ;D

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I envy you being there. I've got shivers down my spine just visualising it from the radio call.

There's footage of it somewhere. I think it's on the Tulloch video produced by Graham McNeice in the early 90's. Just went to check my copy but the cassette case is empty . His ridiculously easy win in the Caulfield Cup has to be seen to be believed.

Blood_17, would be interested to know
- your best/favourite racecaller
- the biggest/most sensational racing story in your time as a journo
- how much effort journo's really put into their race tips

 

[Blood_17]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I'd say the Fine Cotton Affair was the most extraordinary event that happened during my time, with Big Filou another huge one on the morning of the race. Bill Collins was my favourite racecaller, Joe Brown (ABC) was really reliable and pleasant to listen to.....the callers including our "famous" Terry Bailley make too many mistakes these days, particularly pronouncing horses' names correctly. They should do a bit of study beforehand. Newspaper, radio and TV tipsters all have different methods, so it's impossible to explain their personal ways. I still do tips in a little "no money involved" competition every Saturday and I check the video replays, previous form, breeding and any stories I can find before finalising my selections. I won the comp for the past 12 months and picked five on Saturday, but ran second! When I was working I didn't have much time to do this studying after acceptances so it was completely different, with the rush to get the paper on the streets.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

Thanks for your thoughts. Everyone loves a racing story involving corruption - *smile* Francis is proof.

Just one more. The Waterhouses - villains or victims?

 

[Blood_17]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I can't comment on that one, sorry. Although I covered races for 42 years, I didn't bet and still don't. I've read the stories about the Waterhouses and there could be some shady areas, but I have no idea. My apologies.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

After being non-committal on Big Philou, it's me who should apologise for asking you to comment. Cheers.

 

[Rosy]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I'm loving the trip down racing's memory lane. Great posting fellas.

 

[Blood_17]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

LeeToRainesToRoach, I'm not dodging the Big Philou question or the Waterhouse one. I was at the races the morning we heard the Big Philou news and rushed down to the horse stalls to try to get the story. I wasn't successful. And because I don't bet, I don't take notice of the Waterhouses, except that Gai is an exceptional trainer.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I suspected you were holding back since the topics are still slightly touchy after all these years. Sorry for not taking you at your word.

Re the Waterhouses, can recommend The Gambling Man - reads like an epic and actually lives up to its billing as "the greatest racing story ever told". Numerous defamation actions forced it out of print and it's difficult to get hold of these days, though.

 

[jb03]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I suspected you were holding back since the topics are still slightly touchy after all these years. Sorry for not taking you at your word.

Re the Waterhouses, can recommend The Gambling Man - reads like an epic and actually lives up to its billing as "the greatest racing story ever told". Numerous defamation actions forced it out of print and it's difficult to get hold of these days, though.

You got a copy of that L2R2R?

 

[Tiger44]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

LeeToRainesToRoach, I'm not dodging the Big Philou question or the Waterhouse one. I was at the races the morning we heard the Big Philou news and rushed down to the horse stalls to try to get the story. I wasn't successful. And because I don't bet, I don't take notice of the Waterhouses, except that Gai is an exceptional trainer.

I am currently reading Bart Cummings book and in it he refers to the Big Philou controversy. As is known he was nobbled by Les Lewis but in the book Cummings says he thinks he knows who Lewis was working for but won't name that person due to defamation laws. Pretty sure Doubles bookies faced huge payouts if Big Philou had won the Cup that year and you do your money cold if the horse is a late scratching so ..........

A good enjoyable read.

Blood 17 - hard to believe you followed the horses for so long and with obviously quite a bit of knowledge and never had a bet! Have enjoyed reading your posts.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

You got a copy of that L2R2R?

Yeah jb, you're welcome to borrow it as long as I can find it. It's not on my bookshelf where I thought it was. Something tells me I need to do a cleanup.

 

[Rosy]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I was going to buy a copy but it was 66 bucks. Seemed very expensive but apparently it's sold for up to $400 a copy.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]

I was going to buy a copy but it was 66 bucks.  Seemed very expensive but apparently it's sold for up to $400 a copy.

Putting two and two together, I think the author might've come off second best in court.

Edit: Found my copy. It retailed for $17.95 when it came out. $66 is steep for a paperback.