Harness Racer

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JULY 2010 VOLUME 26, NO. 10 $6.60 (incl GST) V I C T O R I A ,

S O U T H

A U S T R A L I A

&

T A S M A N I A

Bob and ‘The Bay’

Registered by Australia Post Publication 255003/01709

Just A Man & His Horse

Also inside THE PEGASUS PROJECT ADAM CRETTENDEN PROFILE CALDOW FAMILY STABLE INSPECTION Q&A: DEAN COOPER MUM’S THE WORD SA & TASMANIA: THE L ATEST

400 Epsom Rd, Flemington, Victoria PO Box 184, Moonee Ponds, Victoria 3039 Telephone (03) 8378 0200 Scratchings/Driver Changes & Weekend Racing Contact (03) 8378 0291 Fax by demand - Fields 1900 939 284 Facsimile (03) 9372 6104 Racing Office Fax (03) 9372 6136 info@hrv.org.au Members of the Board: Neil Busse (Chairman), Peter Bourke, Carl O’Dwyer, Stephen Nash, Kate Roffey, Neale Wheat, Paul Horvath Chief Executive Officer John Anderson Chairman of Stewards Cameron George Pony Trots Victoria (03) 5857 2316

Tattersall's Park, 6 Goodwood Rd, Elwick TAS 7010 Telephone (03) 6212 9333 Stewards & Registrar (03) 6336 2450 Fax by demand - Fields 1902 240 659 Facsimile (03) 6272 5191 k.neilson@tasracing.com.au Members of the Board: Brian Speers (Chairman), Geoff Baxter, Dean Cooper, Des Gleeson, Rod Thirkell-Johnston, Trevor Leis, Tania Price Chief Executive Officer Gary Lottering Manager - Harness Kevin Neilson Chairman of Stewards Shane Larkins

1 Globe Derby Globe Derby Park, SA PO Box 225, Salisbury, SA 5108 Telephone (08) 8285 2899 Racing Office (08) 8285 0732 Stewards Office (08) 8285 0731 Fax by demand - Fields 1902 240 028 Facsimile (08) 8285 2961 Racing Office Fax (08) 8250 5692 saharness@saharness.org.au Members of the Board: Grant Goodall (Chairman) Catherine Cooper, Des Stanbury, Adrian Edgar, Michael Giorgio, Allen Tapp Chief Executive David Aldred Chairman of Stewards Stephen Mulcay

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Advertising Enquiries Chris Belli - 03 8378 0268 Editorial Enquiries Tanya McDermott - 0419 326 165 Graphic Design Craig Russell - 03 8378 0231 Photographer Stuart McCormick - 0409 688 826

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Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily endorsed by Harness Racing Victoria. No responsibility is accepted by Harness Racing Victoria, the editor or printers for the accuracy of the information contained in the text and/or advertisements.

WHAT'S INSIDE FEATURES 4

Blackie Magic

16 Graeme Beckman 28 Fashions On The Field 30 Charlie Attard 38 Raceapacer Update 40 Happy Endings

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60 Remembering A Legend 66 Tasmania's First Family

EVERY MONTH 8

Q & A - Natalie Rasmussen

22 Stable Inspection

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34 Mum's The Word 46 The Bell Lap 50 New Kid On The Block 54 Victorian Country Scene 58 Owner Profile 62 SA News

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68 Tasmanian Topics 71 Tasmanian News 73 HORSE OF THE MONTH

RACING

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94 Victoria 113 South Australia 120 Tasmania

Editor's Note Given everything that has been said and written following Blacks A Fake’s historic fourth Inter Dominion triumph at Menangle on March 7, it was a challenge to appropriately cover harness racing’s finest moment of modern times without going over old ground. But we think we’ve done it, in the form of this month’s Q & A profile featuring the lady behind the unprecedented success story, winning trainer/ driver Natalie Rasmussen. Three leading journalists also give their perspective on Blackie’s greatest achievement, and we dedicate the April Horse Of The Month to the champ. There’s an Inter Dominion edition of The Bell Lap, features on Graeme Beckman and Charlie Attard and veteran Daylesford trainer Bob Conroy and his family step into the Stable Inspection spotlight.

Cover: The closest thing to heaven on earth. Harness Racer photographer Stuart McCormick ventured into the stunning Wombat State Forest to capture this beautiful shot of Glenn Conroy working his team of trotters – Optimum, Button Brigade and Post Ten Again.

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BLACKIE MAGIC

In the wake of the most significant achievement in modern harness racing history, Herald-Sun journalist Adam Hamilton; New Zealand Herald Racing Editor Michael Guerin; and Harness Racing Victoria Communications Officer Brad Bishop reflect on the enormity of Blacks A Fake’s fourth Inter Dominion Grand Final triumph.

Could Makybe Diva complete a hat trick of wins? Of course she did. And in the words of racecaller Greg Miles ... “a champion becomes a legend.” My job has opened the door for me to travel the world going to big race meetings.

Adam Hamilton IT WAS the same feeling as Makybe Diva day. As I woke early on the Sunday morning, there was a sense of déjà vu about the occasion. All week I’d been talking on radio, television and writing in News Limited newspapers about the significance of Blacks A Fake’s quest for a recordbreaking fourth Inter Dominion Final win. Early in the build-up it dawned on me it felt like another Makybe Diva moment. It was back on the first Tuesday in November of 2005 when I drove out to Flemington long before most of the 100,000 others for Melbourne Cup Day.

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But Makybe Diva is top of the pops for me. Well, that was until Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Menangle. I love racing of all codes, but harness racing is my passion. And in my 20-plus years writing and commentating on the sport, Blacks A Fake is the most amazing horse I’ve seen, at least in this part of the world. Unstoppable Italian trotter Varenne shares that honour on a global stage.

I had to be there early as part of my gig on Channel Seven’s coverage.

It was my then Sky Channel colleague Sam Nati who first alerted me to Blacks A Fake’s potential.

As I headed into Channel Seven’s bunker, the anticipation was awesome.

My favourite horse at the time was Sting Lika Bee.

This Melbourne Cup was about one horse, not 24.

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I’ll always treasure Varenne’s amazing win in Sweden’s 2001 Elitloppet and Jenna’s Beach Boy’s 10-length win on 1995 Little Brown Jug Day in Delaware, Ohio.

We had a side bet on which horse would earn more stake money by the end of their career.

"In my 20-plus years writing and commentating on the sport, Blacks A Fake is the most amazing horse I’ve seen, at least in this part of the world." Adam Hamilton

Sting Lika Bee won a Hunter Cup and more than $1 million, but Nati owned me. Blacks A Fake is on $4.2 million and counting. Nati backed his judgement and won a truckload when Blacks A Fake won his first Inter Dominion in Hobart in 2006. He then repeated the dose in Adelaide (2007) and joined Our Sir Vancelot as the only three-time Inter Dom winner with an all-the-way Moonee Valley victory in 2008. I won’t dwell on the fact he was a certainty beaten in last year’s Gold Coast Final after an out-ofcontrol Auckland Reactor took charge of driver Gavin Lang, sat outside Blacks A Fake, and mauled the champ for much of the race. He still ran a mighty second. That was supposed to be the end of the story. Nobody expected to see Blacks A Fake at another Inter Dominion Final. But, against all odds as a nine-year-old, trainer/ driver Natalie Rasmussen somehow managed to peak him for the Menangle final. It wasn’t until eight days before, when “Blackie” stunningly won his ID10 heat at Newcastle, that people really started to believe he could win it

again. Monkey King remained the favourite, but much like the 2005 Melbourne Cup, the ID10 final was all about one horse – Blacks A Fake. As somebody charged with covering the race, especially taking it into people’s homes through Sky Racing, I felt the nerves. I felt the pressure to do the occasion justice. I don’t think I’ve ever prepared more for a race meeting. The scene was set. People knew the history. They knew the occasion. Blacks A Fake delivered. It wasn’t just a win, it was a thrashing. It was a career-best performance at an age when most horses are retired or pushing up daisies. This wasn’t just a special racing moment, it was a great sporting achievement. This time it was racecaller Fred Hastings who said: “Inter Dominion immortality for Blacks A Fake ... you beauty!” I feel privileged to have covered Blacks A Fake’s career and to have been trackside for its defining moment is something I will never forget. Thanks Blackie!

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Liv ing a Sweet Life

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By Jason Bonnington

Greg Sugars

THERE may have been a conspicuous lack of a palace to defend or a sovereign to shield. But the words, gestures and tangible sense of ceremonial ordination that followed Greg Sugars’ outstanding win aboard Mister Zion in last month’s Mildura Cup resembled in every way that matters a moving and memorable changing of the guard.

That the success provided one of Australia’s most revered and respected trainer/drivers Geoff Webster with his fifth win of a stunningly successful Mildura Carnival would ordinarily have been more than newsworthy enough to dominate harness headlines throughout the State. That Webster did not occupy the sulky in even one of those victories in favour of fellow former South Australian Sugars, prior to confirming their partnership as permanent and tacitly endorsing the wunderkind as the next big thing in Victorian driving ranks, however, signified something even more profound. And the moment was lost on no-one, least of all the young man at its core. “In my eyes Geoffrey (Webster) is as good a trainer, driver and horseman as anyone in the country and I think plenty of people around the place share my feelings on that,” Sugars said. “For him to give me the responsibility he has and to say the things he did is indescribable. “I’m just so honoured that someone I’ve idolised and respected growing up would speak about me like that. “It was a very good feeling, but there’s a little bit of pressure that comes with that too... for me to live up to that as best I can.” Few would argue that such a test of character and fortitude is beyond him. At just 25 years of age the son of Ross and grandson of Len - two of South Australia’s favourite sons of the sulky – has built an imposing reputation for excellence and success, highlighted by his imposing strike rate of 121 wins from less than 750 drives for the season thus far. Remarkably, had it been up to his father, Greg may never have made it onto the racetrack. “By the time I was 14 or so, I pretty much knew this is what I wanted to do,” the young horseman revealed. “Dad was more than a bit ‘iffy’ at first. He strongly suggested that maybe I should stay in school and follow a different path, having seen the difficulties of the profession. “But school just wasn’t me and in the end I’m glad I didn’t listen to him. It’s worked out pretty well so far.” The nervous laughter that followed such an epithet of understatement is both revealing of Sugars’ natural humility and indicative of the genuine pride and even surprise the young driver feels to stand

where he does today. The journey here – like most that are worthwhile – has been bereft of neither significant sacrifice nor calculated risk. Raised first in Adelaide and then nearby Virginia surrounded by the standardbred and enamoured with harness racing from his earliest memories, Sugars was driving fast work for his father “by 11 or 12”, and hopelessly hooked on the industry soon after. But early teenagers are afforded the wonderful liberty to dream without the responsibility that must inevitably follow and by the age of 18 the young Sugars reached his first great impasse; pursue his passion with the dedication required for success or revel in the youth that will only come once. The decision was simple and the reward ever so sweet. “I guess it was a little bit hard when I was 18 or 19 and I had a lot of school friends who wanted to go out on a Friday or Saturday night and I had to be at the trots,” Sugars said. “You sort of felt you were missing out on something, but you mature as you go along and you learn to focus on those things you really want out of life. “In the end I got over it pretty quickly. I’m really not much of a partygoer; my life is all about the horses.” So keen, in fact, was Sugars’ focus on what he wanted from his life and career that he chose to move to the Garden State – in spite of a stronger than usual connection to family – before his 20th birthday and all alone. But the best remedy for homesickness has always been hard work and the budding superstar – with the support of those who recognised his potential and admired his character – began his ascension. “Greg Carr in Bacchus Marsh – who I still drive for now – was one of the first blokes who really made me their number one driver and I appreciate it to this day,” the likeable reinsman opined. “Then dad moved over here and that provided me with another batch of horses and Merv Williamson was putting me on a fair few of his, so that’s how I really got going. “Nowadays, in the last 12 months or so, it’s guys like Geoff Webster, Keith Cotchin – who’s been a great supporter of mine this season - and Greg Norman who have helped to take me to the next level I suppose.” It is the sincerity of gratitude with which the gun

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reinsman refers to the aforementioned conditioners and indeed all those who have given him an opportunity over the journey that perhaps best reflects the true nature of Sugars the man; respectful, circumspect and grounded. A mockery of everything we’re told Generation Y is all about. “In all sports and any sort of fame you can come and go pretty fast,” the horseman philosophised. “You can be put on a pedestal pretty quick and get knocked off it twice as quick, but if I’m seen as a nice, well-mannered young man who works hard and will always go out and do his best for you, that’s all I could ask for.” One can only speculate that said qualities and more were on open display when Sugars landed his biggest victory in life and racing so far by convincing Harness Racing Victoria’s Metropolitan Racing Co-ordinator Jess Tubbs that he was worth a gamble almost three years ago. The couple has recently moved into Jess’ new home in harness racing’s heartland of Melton and Sugars knows all too well how fortunate he is to have found not only a partner in life but one who appreciates more than most the sacrifices that come with his job.

maintaining his extraordinary run of form and fulfilling the lofty ambitions that go hand-inhand with becoming the brightest rising star in Victorian harness racing. That, along with a work ethic and personal drive which has seen him embraced by so many in the industry.

“The one piece of advice I’d give to a young kid wanting to do what I do is that you only get out of racing what you put in,” the reinsman said. “There’s always an element – particularly in this sport – of being in the right place at the right time - which I have been the last two years – but the proof is in the pudding. “I’ve had a good year this year but I’ve got to have a good year for the next 25 years to get the respect given to the best, which is what I hope to be.” And with the tutelage and mentorship of not only his father, but also those he wishes to emulate, it would be a brave man to bet against Sugars going all the way to the top. “My main teacher and sounding board has been, is, and always will be dad...I’m always running things by him,” he said. “But Geoff Webster and Gavin Lang, I’ve found those two guys have always been more than helpful if I’ve ever needed advice. John Caldow was also great when I worked with him soon after coming here and even Chris Alford and Daryl Douglas have always been happy to answer any questions you might have. “But along with dad, Geoffrey and Gavin have been my two biggest influences I guess.” And following Sugars’ heroics in Mildura, nothing could be more appropriate.

“I’m working basically every day and I’m on the road so much that we don’t get to see each other a lot,” he lamented. “If Jess wasn’t involved in harness racing or didn’t have an interest in the game it would make it very difficult to work. “But she has obviously been around horses all her life (as daughter of leading Victorian trainer Alan and sister to top young trainer/ driver Amy) and if she doesn’t have to work she’s more than happy to come and keep me company at the races every now and then. I know I’m very lucky to have her.” Indeed the stability and balance that Sugars – who also trains a triumvirate of horses from his father’s Hopetoun Park establishment - has forged between work, family and his relationship with Jess should prove integral to

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Whilst it was left to Webster to almost formally coronate Sugars as the heir apparent to the title of Victoria’s – and potentially Australia’s – next champion reinsman, it is Lang, the long reigning king of the sport we all love who Sugars may one day usurp. The young star’s aforementioned humility precludes him from entertaining such a thought, but it’s a reality all in the industry look forward to unfolding in the years to come. “It’s not something I can even comprehend,” Sugars said when confronted with the popular belief. “If I could have half the career he’s (Lang) had I’d be a very happy man. “But people can compare me to whoever they like, I pride myself in my driving and my life on learning something from everyone, always being adaptable and just getting the best out of being me. I hope and think that will always be enough.” On behalf of all concerned I can safely say it is.

M AY 2010 15 GREG SUGARS

History Sides With Inaugural Redwood Hero

By Tanya McDermott

If Stephen Spielberg or Oliver Stone were directing, the Redwood Classic’s silver anniversary would be a movie of epic proportions.

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Nothing short of a Hollywood blockbuster could do justice to the 25th annual running of an event so much a part of the fabric of harness racing in this State that it could easily be much, much older. For Graeme Johannesen, who won the very first Redwood in 1986 with Young Trouper, the fable that is the nation’s most challenging assignment for two-year-old trotters, will always date back many years earlier. “When I was kid and first started to have anything to do with horses – and we’re talking more than 50 years ago – Hugh Redwood stood a stallion called King Redmond,” Johannesen recalled. “He was by an imported horse named Roy Redmond and from memory he was a fairly good trotter whose racing career was curtailed, to a fair degree, by the War,” he said. “There were a lot of trotters who raced in those days by King Redmond and the bloke I used to hang around with as a youngster had a horse or two by him as well.” From Johannesen’s earliest recollections, Redwood was the person to whom anyone with hopes of square-gaiting success aspired. He considers it fitting, perhaps even fateful, that the race which perpetuates the master horseman’s memory has evolved into a legend in its own right. “Hugh was always very forthcoming with advice and assistance. I’m sure a lot of people who have trained trotters over the years would credit their success to him,” Johannesen suggested. “That’s why I was so pleased to win the Redwood in its first year. “The race had been built up into something special almost before it had started and for me, there was a lot of history associated with the win,” he admitted. “People really wanted that first Redwood because Hugh was held in such great esteem by so many within the industry. “Young Trouper was owned by Ken and Lois Stacey and we were a little bit lucky that year because he won the Victoria Sires Stakes Final (carrying $18,000 in stakes) as a two-year-old as well. “But I know they got more of a kick out of the Redwood (worth $3500) than the Sires Stakes.” Johannesen revealed that Young Trouper – a pacing bred son of Young Dancer – had a shocking gait as a youngster and struck the ground with enormous force. “I remember working him one day on the Sebastian track (as a pacer) and he marked up so badly that I took his front hopples off and looped them over the end of the sulky

shafts so he could jog home because I felt sorry for the poor bugger. “That was in the back straight and by the time we’d reached the front gate, he was bowling along pretty good in a trot, so I decided to do another lap,” he recalled. “The same afternoon I pulled his pacing shoes off and put trotting slippers on and 10 days later he trotted a furlong in 15 seconds. “Gee he was a good horse, he was so very, very quick. He might have been anything but he fractured a pastern as a three-yearold. “He came back and won another five races, but he was never the same horse,” Johannesen lamented, adding that the gelding had an incredible will to win. “He absolutely hated getting beaten, he’d go right off, even at home. I’ve never know a horse like it.”

things wrong. “Then we hoped to have (her half brother) Amiri for the Redwood last year, but he suffered a hairline fracture of the tibia and didn’t make it,” he said. “So there’s a bit of pressure on the shoulders of Living Bonus this year.” History has a habit of laying the most appropriate cards on the table come Redwood Day which gives the lightly-raced Village Jasper gelding a head start on many of this year’s Classic aspirants. Not only does he have a close association with the man who trained the first Redwood winner, he comes from the non-traditional trotting bloodlines which have featured so prominently in Johannesen’s association with the famous juvenile race.

Young Trouper started 4/7 favourite in the inaugural Redwood Classic with Gavin Lang in the sulky and defeated McKinnoch by a metre in a 2:13.7 mile rate for the 2000-metre standing start journey.

“Mark Thompson (of Jadah Rose fame) sent him down to me to get going and I don’t think he was too pleased when I reported back that I didn’t like him and he was no good as a pacer, but he could trot a bit and I thought he had some potential,” Johannesen said.

The following year, stable mate Totem Toto finished just behind the placings in the Redwood won by Lady Thor.

“Mark made the comment that trotters and him don’t get along, so he’d better stay at my place.

“He was an absolute ratbag. He could go, but he did everything wrong in that race – he trotted his last mile in 2:03 to finish fourth,” Johannesen said.

“I let him go as a trotter for 10 days as a yearling, and I was pretty sure back then that he’d make the grade.”

It was two years before the genius behind champion trotter True Roman contested his third Redwood Classic, represented by serial bridesmaid High Living. The equine giant was photo finished into second placing behind Kwik Kiwi. “He was by Rompin Home. Jack Moore rang me up one day to tell me he had a pacer who wouldn’t pace but might be worth trying as a trotter. “He could have been a hero. He was beaten less than a metre in the Redwood, finished second in the Victoria Sires’ Stakes Final and second in the Trotters’ Derby,” he explained. A lengthy stint training in South Australia saw Johannesen disappear from the Victoria trotting scene and the Redwood annals, but the race was never far from his thoughts. Since returning to Elmore two years ago with partner Jenny Johnson, it’s no surprise to learn that their principal hopes and dreams rest with a single two-year-old trotting feature, staged at Maryborough in July every year. “All Jen wants is a runner in the Redwood,” Johannesen revealed. “Singing Creek ran a good race to finish fourth in the Consolation in 2008, but did

At the time of writing, Living Bonus – who is out of a Barnett Hanover mare and has absolutely no trotting blood in his maternal pedigree – had raced just twice for a debut third placing and a Kilmore 7th after galloping. “I’m sure he’ll be much better as a threeyear-old next year, but he’s got a couple of plus’s in his favour – he’s a good looking specimen of a horse, and he’s got the most marvellous temperament. “We’ve got half hopples on him at present because we think he needs them but once he can lengthen his stride and I can take some weight off him he’ll find a better rhythm,” Johannesen predicted. Maryborough Harness Racing Club will host the 2010 Seelite Windows and Doors Redwood Carnival at its Bendigo Bank Complex in Carisbrook on the weekend of July 16 to 18. The 25th annual running of the Seelite Windows and Doors Redwood Classic highlights a 10-race program on Sunday afternoon, July 18 appropriately dubbed “Celebration of the Trotter”. Further information about the weekend’s program of events and promotional highlights are included in this month’s edition of the The Bell Lap on Page 36.

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Adam Crettenden A Ja c k O f A l l R a c i n g ’s Tra d e s

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By Jason Bonnington

ADAM CRETTENDEN

AT JUST 34 years of age accomplished racecaller, emerging reinsman and renowned racetrack recondite Adam Crettenden has proven himself a genuine Renaissance Man of Australian harness racing.

Smooth and measured over the microphone, cool and composed in the sulky and disarmingly down to earth in person, he is what theatregoers might refer to as a “triple threat”.

assignment.

As such it would be easy to assume that a career in horses and harness racing was part of the young broadcaster’s birthright.

“I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do, but I chose racecalling for two powerful reasons; I wanted to do something different to everybody else and I desperately wanted to get away from a school environment.

But as it turns out, almost nothing could be further from the truth. “We never really even had a pet growing up, let alone a horse,” Crettenden joked with reference to his upbringing as the eldest of five children in suburban Melbourne. “My parents had no interest in horses or harness racing at all. My grandfather took a daily double on the Saturday gallops but that’s about it, that’s as far as my heritage in racing extends.” So how did the boy from Essendon’s Buckley Park College with a gift for writing and a passion for athletics become the most versatile and ubiquitous identity in Victorian racing? Chillingly – especially for those young men and women currently rebelling their way through VCE studies – the impetus for Crettenden’s rise to prominence was a familiar but fortuitous high school

“I was in Year 11 at the time and at the start of the year we were given something called a communication project, which was essentially a year-long responsibility where you looked to further explore something that interested you,” the multitalented Crettenden explained.

“I remember ringing the Harness Racing Board, as it was still known then, and they gave me Rob Auber’s number, so I rang Rob and he said come on down to the trials with me and yeah... that’s how it all got going.” It hardly needs to be said that during that penultimate year of secondary education a passion and purpose was born but despite his obvious talent and rapid development, Crettenden – and his pragmatic parents – were well aware of the pitfalls in pursuing such an esoteric career. And the man himself - in spite of his tangible sense of fatalistic confidence – was not immune to the doubt which accompanies any dream worth pursuing “I think it’s fair to say that racecalling isn’t the kind of job you see advertised in the Saturday classifieds,” the likeable

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MAKE WAVES (ADAM CRETTENDEN)

Crettenden laughed.

subsequent rise in work and opportunity.

“You almost have to wait for someone to die or retire before you get a go, but I just sensed it was something I needed to keep working at.

And as he has done throughout life Crettenden made the absolute most of his crack at the big time, spending the best part of a decade becoming one of the most respected and versatile callers of his generation, with a voice and pentameter as recognisable as any in the industry.

“I mean I went through the same transition as most kids, I deferred a place at RMIT and worked at McDonalds for 12 months, but the whole time I was sending tapes to racing radio stations all around the country, and the encouragement I was receiving was always enough to keep me moving forward. “The only negative feedback – which was actually constructive criticism in hindsight - was diction related, so I also committed to putting myself through radio school and the Academy of Television. “Obviously there was always pressure in those couple of years from mum and dad to settle down and either go back to uni or get a stable job and there may have come a time not too much further down the track where I’d have done that. “But luckily I did get eventually get the call, and for all the drama I was only 20-yearsold.” That call, of course, came from Radio Sport 927 who originally hired Crettenden as an on-air producer only to quickly usher him behind the binoculars when the explosion in Sunday thoroughbred racing saw a steep rise in meetings per week and a 16

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But just as the dust was settling on his exhilarating (if exhausting) rise to notoriety and esteem, the young dynamo was about to see his world turned upside down. It was 2004 and the then 29-yearold Crettenden was revelling in the combination of a committed relationship and a career which afforded him both security and satisfaction, but both were soon to be compromised. One terminally, the other only temporarily, but the legacy of the period Crettenden refers to as his “impasse” - but might better be classified as a full blown existential crisis - would ultimately give rise to a new career, hometown, partner, lifestyle and outlook on life that has made him everything he is today. “About five or six years ago everything in my life imploded all at once,” Crettenden revealed. “My relationship status changed, my perspective changed and HRV decided to put Craig Rail on as a resident caller, leaving 927 with a decision whether to

let me go altogether or keep me on as a gallops caller.

“So there were changes at work, changes at home and everything was in limbo. All of a sudden nothing really remained the same.” But if this spectre of critical crossroads was sent as a test for the gifted young racecaller, he was about to pass with flying colours. Possessed of both an acute sense of self awareness and spirit of adventure to go with his quiet brand of wisdom, Crettenden knew he must heed the message life had offered him, and a revolution ensued. A permanent move out to his new home in Ballan, where he now shares 12 acres and a spacious home he built himself with new partner Kim was the start, but it was a courageous and unprecedented assault on a second career in the sulky that surprised everyone, even himself. “Luckily 927 committed to keeping me

MARYBOROUGH HARNESS RACING CLUB

CARISBROOK RACEWAY, CHAPLINS ROAD, MARYBOROUGH For more information contact Les Chapman on P: 03 5464 2451 or maryborough@hrv.org.au

NEIL PILCHER

Kiwi journeyman on the

Ride of hi s life By Michael Guerin

IT IS ABOUT time Neil Pilcher had a horse good enough to pay him back. Because the immensely popular New Zealand owner has been looking after some of our greatest equines for over three decades.

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MAJOR MARK (NUMBER ONE)

Pilcher is hoping to get to the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown in August to support his outstanding juvenile Major Mark, who has been set for the annual trans tasman clash between the glamour youngsters.

Pilcher owned and ran New Zealand’s most respected horse trucking business for 35 years until selling up recently, which means he has transported thousands of horses with a combined value way into the hundreds of millions.

After winning the $150,000 Young Guns’ Final, the $150,000 Sires’ Stakes and then the $200,000 Harness Jewels, Major Mark is guaranteed Juvenile of the Year honours in his homeland.

While transporting horses is never easy, in New Zealand it is even harder because the North and South Island are separated by the sometimes unpleasant waters of Cook Strait.

That also makes him one of the most prolific major two-yearold race-winning colts to attack the Crown, with New Zealand’s absolute best male pacing colts tending to miss the ABC because of the demands of their three-year-old season.

That is a three-hour boat trip which can make even seasoned human travellers ill.

But trainer Mark Purdon and his owners decided to make the Crown their aim just days after the Harness Jewels win on June 5 and leading that charge was Pilcher.

“It is not so bad these days because when it is really rough now they don’t let you take them on the ferry,” Pilch said.

That the 72-year-old was keen for another trip away will surprise nobody. After all, he has been travelling because of horses half his life. “And I’ve loved every minute of it,” says the man affectionately known as Pilch.

Getting a young, inexperienced racehorse through the crossing requires special skills. Pilcher is a man with those skills.

“In the old days it was far more the owner’s responsibility and it could get a bit rough. “But I would just go down and stand in the back of the truck with the horses. It makes them a lot calmer having a human around to talk to them.” Especially a human like Pilch,

who never once had an accident in thousands of hours driving up and down New Zealand in all sorts of weather. Of course truck drivers are governed by strict rules, meaning they can only drive so far and for so long in one sitting, right? “I think we broke all those rules at one time or another,” said Pilch. “But the main thing was and always has been the safety of the horses.” So what does the driving man think is the most important thing about shipping such precious cargo? “I like to look at them before they get on the truck to see how they are. “If they are fit and healthy then they usually handle it fine. “But sometimes they aren’t. I had one horse a few years ago that looked terrible, all skinny and with poorly looked-after feet even before we started the trip. “I got it to Taupo (three hours south of Auckland) and dropped it into a mate’s place and asked him to treat its feet and then feed it for a week. “I picked it up a week later and it was a different horse. Looking after them is important because if you do that they will look after you.” That love of horses was cultivated

J U LY 2010

21

when Pilcher grew up in Ellerslie, near Auckland’s famous galloping track. “I was always knocking around with the horses when I was a kid and I loved them.” He left the industry though and ran his own demolition firm in Auckland before taking over the horse transport business from his brother Lee at the age of 37. But while Pilcher has always been kind to the horses he hasn’t been quite so kind to himself, admitting he has burned the candle at both ends. His personality and drive meant he always worked long hours but never let that be any excuse to miss a party, whether it be in some small town pub or at a carnival like the Inter Dominion.

“I have known Mark since he was at school because I had horses with Roy (Purdon’s father). “And we have gotten closer over the years, even though there is a big age difference.

“I think he is the best trainer is New Zealand and we like to look at the horses together before deciding which ones to buy.”

It was at that very series last year on the Gold Coast he fell very ill, with genuine fears for his life, but he bounced back faster than anybody could expect.

So why is Purdon so good?

He still has his troubles, his latest being more stomach related than the heart.

Pilcher not only shares in the ownership of Major Mark, who cost $60,000 at the sales, but in New Zealand’s best three-year-old Russley Rascal.

“The heart is good as gold but I need to go back to hospital to see about my stomach. “I’m like a Japanese import car which has done 500,000kms. Bit by bit I’m falling to pieces. “But I reckon I might get another five years out of my body if I’m lucky,” he laughed. Just how that body holds up will determine whether Pilcher enjoys the full Australasian Breeders Crown week or just comes across for the rich finals. And one man who will love having him there is Purdon, to whom Pilch

22

is a friend more than a client.

J U LY 2010

“His work ethic. He would rather be working than socialising and he is always looking ahead. You can’t teach the sort of drive he has.”

The pair sit atop of the list of the 80odd horses he has raced. “Although that number could be a lot higher, because some horses never get to the races and you simply forget about them.

“I can see some of our good young horses having to miss Cup time in the future because the season has become so long,” said Purdon. “They can’t race everywhere and with big money races like the Jewels and the Breeders Crown at the end of the season, some horses are going to be better placed there - and that is going to mean missing the New Zealand Cup Week and starting their next season later.” It is ironic Major Mark will be New Zealand’s highest profile Breeders Crown freshman representative because he is my Art Major, who has made a far bigger impression in Australia. While he doesn’t have massive numbers in New Zealand, Art Major left a number of top juveniles, but Major Mark was clearly the most dominant. Art Major has covered a huge amount of mares since though and is set to make a big impact in New Zealand, where Bettors Delight has been the big mover in the stallion ranks in the past 12 months. Major Mark has been a great advertisement though and still looks to have improvement in him before the Crown. Earlier this season he made life harder for himself by sometimes going rough early, over-racing and even hanging.

“But these are both good horses and I am lucky enough to own them with good people.”

If it wasn’t for those tendencies he might even be unbeaten but Purdon appears to be ironing those bad habits out of him just in time for the Crown.

Purdon admits he has changed his philosophy in tackling the ABC with Major Mark, meaning he will miss the Sires’ Stakes at Addington in November.

Now if only the astute trainer/driver could work on Pilch’s bad habits, maybe the veteran owner could expect to get more than five more years out of that old body of his.

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J U N E 2010

45

Stable Inspection

You’ll often see AFL footballers head down to the beach for a recovery session in the middle of winter. The principal is no different" 24

M AY 2010

training standardbreds at age 35. “If anything, our program might have become a little bit more rigorous,� Glenn suggested. “You can’t venture too far from home with a horse these days unless it’s close to peak

think we’re able to achieve with our training methods. “Of course you keep an eye on changes to feeds and individual nutritional needs but the way we do things today is pretty much the same as dad’s done all the way through,� he said. Team Conroy is a partnership in every respect. Pat makes the feeds and handles the allimportant nominations and driver changes which are generally decided at a morning meeting. Bob is the patriarch and boss, and shares training responsibilities with stable drivers Glenn and Anne-Maree who focuses her dayto-day attention on the younger members of the stable and the horses with “special needs�. Anne-Maree’s husband Michael Barby trains in his own right from a nearby property but will often work-up a horse or two for his in-laws and is very much a part of the family. each morning and looks after the brekkies. The one-time successful reinsman chooses not to drive these days, but is charged with leg maintenance, massage and other such therapies, as well as being the man at the helm of the row boat. Swimming is a key part of the Conroy training schedule and undertaken in a huge dam which could easily be mistaken for a small lake. The horses go out into the middle and most willingly swim laps around the boat although crocodile and require a little more coaxing. And never mind the biting Daylesford winters – swimming is a year-round pursuit for the renowned Conroy trotters, and an ever-soslowly growing number of pacers. “Yes, there are mornings when they have to break the ice on the edge of the dam with their feet before they go in,� Glenn admitted. “But to be honest, I really believe it helps them. Our experience has been that the ones who swim are less inclined to develop colds and I’m sure it helps to build their heart and lung capacity as well as easing any soreness issues they might have. “You’ll often see AFL footballers head down to the beach for a recovery session in the middle of winter. The principal is no different,� he suggested. “It does create a lot of interest from passersby though, and we’ll often have people stop and watch when the horses are swimming. “And at the weekends particularly when there are visitors in the area, we come across lots of walkers and mountain bike riders when we’re out working on the roads.

M AY 2010

25

Stable Inspection

I strongly believe that young horses particularly need to go in the cart every day"

34

M AY 2010

“I strongly believe that young horses particularly need to go in the cart every day and you can’t train horses property by cutting corners.� Born with trotting blood in his veins, Hoban said he has never been tempted to turn professional, despite training and driving for more years than he cares to recall. “I remember working horses as an 11 or 12-year-old, and having three racehorses in the backyard at Northcote when I was going to primary school,� Hoban said. “That’s back in the days when you were up at 7.30am cleaning the spokes of the oldfashioned sulky wheels with brasso so dad could go to the races,� he added. “I’m sure the thought crossed my mind to work with horses when I was younger, but my mother wouldn’t hear of it. “Dad made his living from trotting and he didn’t mind a punt either. It wasn’t easy for mum and she was adamant that we all had to get a good education.� Hoban worked horses at some of Melbourne’s most iconic training venues – namely Gower Park, Maribyrnong and The Showgrounds in Ascot Vale – before ultimately establishing his current showpiece complex. The property comprised 116-acres of bare paddocks when he purchased the allotment. It’s now a purpose-designed and built boutique training facility. “We’ve been living here for 10 years and relocated the horses six years ago,� Hoban

" " acre block entirely separate to the stables. “That’s the way Kim wanted it and I was happy to go along with the plan.� Hoban’s horse facilities include a barn comprising 10 boxes along one side and a kitchen, bathroom and tack room opposite. There’s a wash with direct access to an outside sand roll and an undercover area where horses can be harnessed. #% ' " the inside boxes but I found it only generated extra work that we didn’t really need,� Hoban suggested. “We only had a team of six back then and now " more practical to stable the horses outside and they seem to be a lot happier. “They’ve got shelters in their paddocks but we’ll often look across from the house when it’s raining and see them standing out in the weather,� he laughed. “The smart ones are under cover with only their heads out, but most are content to be outside.� The team works on an 830-metre sand track designed along similar lines to the old Moonee Valley circuit and incorporating an internal jog track. “There’s a little incline in the home straight, but that’s only because of the lie of the land.

M AY 2010

35

26 BRENT LILLEY

J U LY 2010

Lilley blossoms in his adopted home By Adam Hamilton

BRENT Lilley has fellow Kiwi horseman Anthony Butt to thank for changing the course of his life.

It was March, 2002. The second of the heats for the Sydney Inter Dominion Trotting Series had been run and the field for the final was settled. Butt had driven Game Bid superbly for a third and a win in his two heats, and the bookies gave the emerging Kiwi trotter a terrific hope in a star-studded final against the likes of Take A Moment, La Coocaracha and Special Force.

Melton property and make it home indefinitely.

“Gavin’s a huge reason this has been possible,” Lilley, 34, said.

Game Bid had the luxury of the front mark, while Special Force was off 20 metres and Take A Moment and La Cooraracha shared the 25-metre backmark.

“As far as why I made the move … I guess at different stages in your life you get in a bit of a rut from doing the same old things.

Butt had also qualified Take A Moment for the final and, as much as Lilley let his mind wander in hope, there was never a chance the champion Kiwi driver was going to switch from his own family’s horse to drive Game Bid.

“I’ve campaigned horses over here (Australia) and raced a few I’ve had shares in as well and I’ve always appreciated how much better the opportunities are to place your horses in Australia.

Lilley offered the final drive to another Butt – David, of modern-day Bondy fame – but he declined because of a commitment in New Zealand.

“At home we’d have one handy meeting and one country meeting a week, whereas within two to three hours of Gavin’s place, you’ve got 10 meetings.

That’s where Gavin Lang entered Lilley’s life for the first time on any serious level.

“For years I’ve watched so many Kiwi horses go across to Australia and do a good job, even a lot of the ones I’ve sold.

“I’d met Gav before and knew him to say hi to, but that was about the extent of it.

“So I reached a stage where I thought I might as well bring a few across myself and see how it goes.”

“Obviously I knew what a great driver he was, so I approached him to drive Game Bid in the Inter Dom final. “It was a masterful drive. He got the cash for the biggest win of my career, and it started what’s developed into a really great friendship.” Fast-forward eight years and that friendship continues to flourish. It has also seen Lilley, who once trained at Kaiapoi (outside of Christchurch in NZ’s South Island), move to Lang’s

Lilley arrived four months ago with three horses, most notably the emerging five-year-old Flyin Interstate and talented juvenile Courage Tells. Flyin Interstate has proven the banner horse with four wins from eight Aussie starts, include a powerhouse victory in the Mark Gurry and Associates Cup Final on Mildura Cup night. “Flyin Interstate was always going to do a job here,” Lilley said.

“He’s a horse who went from a maiden to racing the likes of Mr Feelgood and Bettors Strike in NZ within the space of 12 months. “When he came to Australia he was on a good mark as a C5/M1 horse and he quickly raced through to M3. “He’s a nice horse, but no superstar. He’ll win more races, but he’ll have to wait his turn at the level he’s at now.” However, Flyin Interstate’s tag as stable star is about to be lost to Don King, a hugely exciting young trotter Lilley partowns and has now taken over training from Graeme and Gavin Lang. Don King has raced just 27 times for 15 wins, nine placings and stakemoney of $120,110. Most of it was earned in his breakthrough campaign last time in work. This season the gelding has stepped out 11 times for eight wins and a second – collecting almost $90,000 in prizemoney. His last start was seventh, when he raced below his best, behind Sundons Gift in the Inter Dominion final at Moonee Valley’s farewell meeting on February 7. “He’s been back in work quite a while and is close to a trial,” Lilley said. “He’s a horse I bred and qualified back home before selling a share in him to Brendan James and sending him across to Gavin and Graeme. “There were four of us who raced the mare (Ashley Blossom) together and when she retired we decided to take turns breeding from her. “I sent her to Sundon and Don King’s

J U LY 2010

27

If we can get him back to anything like his early form we should have some fun with him."

28 DON KING

J U LY 2010

the result. I liked him early, but I knew he needed time.” Don King helped cement a strong business relationship and friendship between Lilley and James. In fact, James’ support has become the backbone of Lilley’s Victorian foray. “You know I arrived here with just the three horses, but Brendan’s been great. “He’s bought a few more and, along with a couple of other owners, I’m up to about 12 in work now. “He’s always on the lookout for nice horses to buy,” he said. “Brendan’s switched a horse across to me now called Im Outtahere. He’s had his issues, but won seven of his 10 starts, and isn’t too far away from racing again.” Lilley is also optimistic about the immediate future with pacer Sir Clive and trotter The Ultimate Galleon. “Sir Clive was an early two-year-old star in NZ, but lost his form and they couldn’t find out what was wrong with him,” he said. “Dr Alastair MacLean worked on him with all the latest technology and found out what was wrong. He’s been operated on and Alastair is hopeful everything went well. “If we can get him back to anything like his early form we should have some fun with him.” The Ultimate Galleon won six of his first 17 starts in New Zealand before a failed raid on the 2008 Breeders Crown three-year-old trotting series, which finished with him running 11th to Skyvalley in the final on August 17, 2008. He hasn’t raced since. “I think there was some sort of ownership dispute, but it’s been resolved and he’s had a couple months of work now. “All his wins have come as a young horse, so he should come back on a good mark,” Lilley said. Lilley realises the importance of continually replenishing his stable stock and that’s where James and Lilley’s 43-year-old brother, Bryan, play a key role. James as the owner and Bryan as the man who is renting his Kaiapoi stable and training a team of horses, 15 of which are Brent’s. “My future is here, but I haven’t sold my place at home. “Bryan’s renting it and training from there. He’s got a batch of horses for me and is gradually sorting through them. “If any of them are suitable, he’ll send them across,” Lilley said. “Bryan is also crucial as our eyes and ears in Canterbury. He’s on the lookout for potential horses to buy for Brendan or some of my other owners.” There are times when Lilley misses home, but the camaraderie of Lang’s almost community training set-up has helped make things a lot more fun. And when Lilley looks at the stakemoney in NZ’s

J U LY 2010

29

South Island he’s sure he made the right call giving Victoria a shot. “Things have improved in NZ in recent years, but it’s Auckland where the money is big,” he said. “We have Addington (Christchurch) midweek racing for a penalty and total race stake of $NZ3000 – I think the greyhounds go around for almost as much of a Friday night at Addington. “Even the NZ Cup Carnival struggles to pull the horses down from the North Island now. “With the exception of the openclass horses, Auckland races for such big money each week and Addington only gets it a couple of times a year.”

30

J U LY 2010

Lilley trains alongside the Mick Doltoff/Susan Hunter team and Adam Kelly out of Lang’s property.

“It’s a big thing in every stable to have people you can rely on and know the job will be done right.”

“There’s lots of horses here, but also a lot of people,” Lilley said.

At a time when real estate in traditional harness racing areas is being re-zoned and prices becoming exorbitant, “community” stabling like Lang’s could provide an attractive option for future generations of harness trainers.

“I’ve got about 12, Mick and Susan have about the same as does Graeme and Gavin together. Then there’s Adam Kelly, who has five of his own and also works for Gavin. “It’s a real community. We all seem to get along well together and know the run of the ropes. We have a bit of fun and sit down and have a beer at the end of the day. “Now with Gavin getting out to drive at more meetings, he knows when he’s away everything will be done as normal with his horses.

“No doubt it could be a model for the future. I certainly know in our case it’s working really well,” Lilley said.

Hoof Note: Lilley announced his arrival as a Victorian training force when he claimed the $30,000 Group Three Tontine Pacers' Series Final at Terang on June 17 with $14.20 hope Atlas Alliance.

Q. It would seem your life is dominated by two things – work in and around the legal profession, and horse racing. Which is the greater passion? A. Oh, horse racing. I would reject any suggestion that I have a passion for the legal profession. Perhaps I could put it this way – I care deeply about people who have proper claims that require lawyers to act on their behalf but I don’t really care at all about the legal profession. Q. Was it always your intention to study law? A. Essentially. There were only two things that I was interested in really as a primary school or early high school student – and that was flying planes or being a lawyer. The humanities side of study came pretty easily to me and the science side of it was extremely difficult so the choice was made. Q. What is your area of speciality?

QA &

A. Primarily I do personal injury litigation for persons who are injured in car accidents or work-related industrial accidents. That would be 75 percent, if not more, of my current legal practice, certainly since I moved back to Hobart in ’95. Before then, probably 50 to 60 percent was P.I. work and the balance (in a mixed practice on the north-west coast) was family law, criminal law, conveyancing and commercial stuff. Q. Surely criminal law would be much more exciting? A. If you’re acting for an innocent person it is Tanya. I’ve only done one significant criminal matter since I moved back to Hobart and that was a trial I did last year for a guy who was known to me through his family and I believed that he was innocent – not just that he would be found not guilty, but he was innocent. We had a six-day trial and all the charges were thrown out on a no-case submission. That’s always gratifying, when you get that type of result, but sadly I think many people who plead not guilty are, in fact, guilty.

Q&A makes a brief comeback this month, with popular Tasmanian identity Dean Cooper in the hot seat. He spoke with Harness Racer editor Tanya McDermott about his life in law, the challenges of harness racing administration and owning a superstar.

J U LY 2010

61

Stable

Inspection B y Tany a McDer mot t

I F T H E R E i s o n e t hi n g whi c h s e parat e s t h e C a l d o w f a m i l y ’s R a i d o r a L o d g e o p e r a t i o n f r o m i t s p e e r s , i t ’s t h e ob v i ou s j o y d er i ve d f ro m each and e v er y ra c e t ra c k s u c c e s s .

34

J U LY 2010

Husband and wife training team John and Maree Caldow take pride in the professionalism of their Melton stable They are fastidious in their approach to educating and preparing their team and leave no stone unturned in their quest to deliver tangible returns for their owners. And when the rewards which inevitably result from hard work are forthcoming, they celebrate. It’s a refreshing change from the poker face so often associated – and expected – from those who make a living from the harness racing industry and regard winning as merely a necessary means to an ends. “I make sure our owners enjoy their wins, no matter where or when they happen,� Maree Caldow admitted. “It’s so hard to win these days because it’s so competitive and you have to make the most of every success, whether it’s at Charlton or Tabcorp Park. “Plus, when it comes to horses and racing, you never know what’s around the corner. “That’s why we’re all about enjoying the moment,� she added, making no apologies for wearing her heart on her sleeve come race day. The Caldow family relocated to a 40-acre property at Melton 13 years ago. The purpose-built harness racing facility had previously been home to former astute trainer Peter Ward and includes a 900-metre fast work track and separate 800-metre jog track. “The jog track’s fairly standard – it’s only marginally heavier and situated inside the main fast work track,� Caldow said. “We’re fortunate to have very good training facilities. A lot of top horses have stayed here over the years and they all love working at our place. “We don’t like to talk out of school, but the good horses can run fast times here - Smooth Satin did hold the track record until Baileys Dream beat it last year,� she revealed. Swimming is another important part of the Caldow team’s work regime, particularly horses with leg issues. “We’ve got a bungee pool and for horses with tendons and other injury problems, it forms the majority of their work program. “It’s hard work in the pool and you have to be very careful not to overdo it - they start off doing 15 seconds on day one and slowly build up.

J U LY 2010 FARRIER RAY SUTTON AT WORK.

35

Stable

Inspection

36 (FROM J U LY TEAM CALDOW: LEFT)2010 RAY SUTTON, MATTHEW CALDOW, MAREE CALDOW, STEVEN BARNES, LAUREN CALDOW, JOHN CALDOW, AARON "GINGE" WOODHOUSE-ASHBY, PAUL GRIEVE, MARY CALDOW AND MOTU HOT SHOT DUDE.

“A horse in full work will do two heats of three minutes in the bungee pool, separated by a 10 minute walk and that’s the extent of their exercise for the day,� Caldow explained.

John is incredibly calm and patient and I think the mares respond to that type of approach very well"

“We’ve had a lot of luck swimming horses with + <" = "> <

@ X Moreau – had suspensory problems and the only way we could keep him racing was in the pool. “We were sent (Vicbred Super Series winner) Adams Mate because we had swimming [ " X \ Dude’s routine, for example, mainly comprises swimming.� Raidora Lodge (named after a top mare trained by John Caldow’s late father Jack) was originally set-up with a large barn for stabling, but these days the majority of the Caldow team enjoy the liberty of walk-in, walk-out yards. “We pretty much gutted the inside of the barn and set it up as a work area. “ We’ve got tie-up rails so we can gear-up undercover; the wash is inside too, as well as a gear room, rug storage and that type of thing,� she said. “We prefer the horses to have the freedom to move around. Plus, they all go out in the paddock for at least an hour every day after they’ve worked.� It’s a system which seems to agree particularly with mares, as the stable has built an imposing record with horses of the fairer sex. \]" ^ [ " + “John is incredibly calm and patient and I think the mares respond to that type of approach very well,� Caldow suggested. “But we both have a real soft spot for trotters – they’re so time consuming but incredibly rewarding when they put it all together. #_ " " > = "> < races, my biggest thrill personally was still winning the Redwood at Maryborough with ` <[ { = +| With a winter team numbering 24, and John’s heavy schedule of stable and freelance driving commitments to juggle, the stable’s daily routine is strictly structured and demands 100 percent dedication and a strong work ethic from all involved. Fortunately, John and Maree are supported by fabulous staff who know the ropes intimately ["

+ “We start at 6am and it’s pretty much full on [ " all the horses at around 10-10.30,� Caldow said. “We’ve got a pretty good system. We hopple [ > [ will go out onto the track, then I get a jogger trip (of eight horses) ready. “So we can have 11 horses on the track at one >> [[ the next trip is geared up and ready to go,� she explained.

J U LY 2010

37

Stable

Inspection

“Once John heads off to the trots (which is most days), the boys will clean up around the place and do any other little jobs that are needed but the majority of the work is done by mid-morning.

> " " + X [ school at 15 and has worked with us for the majority of the time since, bar for a six month stint at Coles and two years in Perth,� she said.

“John and I both like to have things running very smoothly and we’re fortunate because we work very well together.�

#= [ ^ } ~ = % " came here almost 12 months ago and is a really nice young guy.

Raidora Lodge has two full-time staff – Steven Barnes, who is John and Maree’s nephew and has been with the stable for more than a decade, and 20-year-old Kiwi Aaron WoodhouseAshby who prefers to be known by his

#= |+

“We’re helping him to get his driver’s licence at the moment and look forward >

| Caldow said enthusiastically.

“Steven has his truck licence and can

38

J U LY 2010

Another valued team member is Paul = " > ^ time after a recent bout of ill health but is regarded as one of the family.

} [ " lives on the property where the horses are stabled and is always available to lend assistance when required.

“Ray is an integral part of the team,

" " + X our farrier in Echuca and followed us down when we relocated to Melton.

“She had a knee replaced recently and was off the scene for eight weeks. I was lost without her,� Caldow said.

#X € " most Tuesdays when we go across to Kilmore trials John will call in to drive one or two of our yearlings and get a feel for how they’re going,� she explained.

“She’s my right hand lady and can always be relied upon to pick the kids up from school and look after other jobs.� Caldow made special mention of farrier Ray Sutton who spends every second Friday at the property and can shoe upwards of 15 horses on any given day; and Rita Burnett who breaks-in and educates the stable’s young stock.

Children Matthew and Lauren are also willing to lend a helping hand with feed-up duties when required, but have no ambition to follow their parents into a hands-on role within the industry. “Matthew is very clever and has achieved excellent results as school.

X the horses and hopes to become a commercial pilot. “Lauren’s ambition at this stage is to be a primary school teacher,� Caldow said with an obvious pride in both her offspring. “They both enjoy the horses and plan to always be involved in harness racing, but their great love is ownership. “They had shares in (former smart mare) Mesmerizing and presently own Obama and Elegantly – they get a lot of pleasure out of racing the horses we breed ourselves and that’s where they see their long term interest remaining,� Caldow said.

J U LY 2010

39

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IF F YOUR HOR RSE L AC CKS TH HE WINNIN NG EDG GE DUE E TO INJU URY, NOT GOING G TH HE DIISTA ANCE OR L ACK KING EAR RLY SP PEED D YO OU NE EED D GROW W TH H FAC CTO ORS! C alll Medii vet to o da a y fo o r a frr ee, no obll ig g a tio o n con n s ultatii on n on 1800 3 56 6 505 o r v isit w ww w.m m e divv e t.net.au

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J U LY 2010

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J U LY 2010

41

It wasn’t a deliberate design feature,� Hoban admitted.

don’t ever want to see them leave their best at home.�

“I’ve tried a few different things over the years, but I’d say my training methods are fairly traditional.

Hoban said his greatest asset is knowing exactly what times are required on his track to ensure a horse is competitive come race day.

“The horses hopple Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, unless they’re racing and I have to alter the routine to suit,� he said. “If I want to do something a little bit different, I can take one down to Lance Justice’s (nearby) property to work, but they mostly follow a similar program. “They all work over a mile and a half (2400 metres) and the times will depend on the horse, but they’ll probably run their last mile in ‘nine or ten’ on Tuesday, ‘six or seven’ on { " †[ " \ " + “The one thing I expect is that all my horses could go for at least 400 metres [ " @ '

36

M AY 2010

“I’ve been here long enough now to know my track pretty well. “If a horse can run a mile in 2:03 or 2:04 at home, it can go to the trials and it needs to be able to go 2:02 or 2:03 to be ready to win at the races. “When I stick to that theory, I don’t usually go too far wrong,� he suggested, adding that two key owners were involved with the present team. “Kevin Clarke (of Bayswater Jayco [ ' " ' + “There was supposed to be a superstar among them to pay-off the new property,� Hoban recalled, tongue in cheek.

“But only one actually won a race and that was down in Tasmania. They all ]" " grade. “There was a time when I would have had to persevere with those horses for much longer than they deserved because it was all I had to work with,� he acknowledged. “These days, with the support of people like Kevin and Geoff Fothergill (who owns smart youngster Modern Girl) I can afford to be more selective with what I train and what I move on. “That’s the biggest difference. Although the team is a lot bigger, we’re turning horses over with greater regularity and bringing new ones into the stable. “And our results are better for it,� Hoban concluded.

Stable Inspection

I don’t ever want to see them leave their best at home"

M AY 2010

37

T H E WORD By Dennis Huxley

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J U LY 2010

KATE TUBBS

FOR their 30th wedding anniversary, Bacchus Marsh trainer Alan Tubbs did the right thing and whisked his wife Kate away to Sydney for a break.

ALAN TUBBS

He insists it was purely coincidence that they travelled by truck and took along a horse with a pending racing engagement at Harold Park for company. “You wouldn’t believe the places I take her,� Alan Tubbs said proudly. “She has visited nearly every capital city in Australia (and regularly travels interstate) - as long as I have got a horse in.� But Kate isn’t complaining. She long ago realised that she her lot in life would include sharing Alan’s time with the horses. It was a fact she had accepted even before they were married in 1979. Introduced by a mutual friend, the couple caught up when they could, but most of Alan’s time was taken up preparing the horses. “That is pretty typical of harness racing people, it is very hard to " leisure time. “But Kate must have got sick of watching me going around in circles because she ended up asking ‘have you got a quiet one that I could learn to drive on.’

“She came round and started working horses with me so we could chat - she drove an old horse of my dad’s called Bank Robber.� Kate explained the adventure was a necessary evil. “He was so busy, that was the only way I could get to speak to him some days!’’ But the volunteer track work load inevitably escalated and with a teaching career of her own beckoning, Kate pulled the pin. “For a while, I would jog a horse beside him but I quickly found out that the more you learned, the more was expected.� Alan, 53, pleaded guilty as charged. “She very soon realised she shouldn’t have made the offer (to learn to drive) and gave it away really quickly. I can tell you, we are buggers for using up any free labour.� The loss of a track work driver was a small price for the young trainer to pay. He would soon be more than compensated when he gained a partner for life, but not before the

pair had worked through some serious health problems. While they were still dating Alan was diagnosed with kidney failure which often necessitated a lengthy stay in hospital. #{ ' [ ' her was when I spent six months of hospital and she came every day. “We played cards and all sorts of things and we never got sick of each ' time I realised perhaps people could get on that well.� Get on well they did then, and get on well they still do now. “Honestly, I couldn’t begin to tell you how important Kate has been to me, that is why she is still absolutely my best friend, she is a gun, a great mother,� Alan enthused. ‡ [ " faced alongside Alan as a solid grounding for their marriage. “I think having had all that challenge early on, it makes you realise yes, you can stick at this, it is worth doing. “It was hard, he had dialysis while

J U LY 2010

43

I think the world can run a lot smoother if everyone is properly fed."

we were waiting for a kidney transplant and we were told that there would possibly be no children, we just had to come to terms with all that. “In the end we were so worried about getting Alan better, that was really on the back burner anyway. “We were very lucky that he had a transplant after 12 months on dialysis. That went for seven years and in that time we had the girls.� The “girls� to which the doting mum refers are well known trainer/driver Amy Tubbs (aged 26) and Tabcorp Park, Melton Racing Manager Jess Tubbs (23) “They are both in the horse industry, in very different roles but I am very proud of both of them,� the 53-yearold said. “As a teacher I wanted Amy and Jess to have a piece of paper to show that they were good at something else - both did extremely well in VCE but they chose careers to do with

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J U LY 2010

horses. “Although Jess was keen growing up, she became too tall to be in the sulky very often with them. “She has always helped to bring them in and do those sorts of jobs but it wasn’t a passion like with Amy,� she explained. “But I think she absorbed an awful lot of horse stuff as she grew up and she found all those networking contacts and things have been a big advantage with the job that she now has.� _ [ [ [ ˆ no doubt less taxing for a mother, compared to the worry of watching a teenage daughter go around on the > [ drive. In a quirky sense of maternal joy, Kate was happy to see Amy tailed off at her public driving debut at the Bacchus Marsh trials in 2000. “Mum and I both said to her you

should be right out the front or right out the back and that way it was safe. “Amy was very disappointed. In her dreams she would have won the trial but in our dreams she got around safely and that was all we were worried about,� she admitted. Kate’s understandable concerns have surely now been eased with Amy establishing herself among the State’s most accomplished drivers. “She (Amy) has always loved the horses, I’ve got photos of her when she only about 18 months old and she was on the back of one of our old horses called Light Appeal. “Then we bought her a little Welsh mountain pony when she was about four - Mischief his name was - and he taught her how to ride. “She sat on his back and he was very patient with her.� In addition to raising two children, helping on the farm and taking care

AMY TUBBS

of Alan as his health recovered, Kate continued to work as a primary school teacher, a career that would last 35 years. Currently on long service leave, she is unsure if she will return to work. “I am just enjoying being outside from one end of the day to the other and it is having results. “The farm is looking all spick and span again, all those jobs that you don’t get around to doing when you have got another job,� Kate suggested. “One of the real joys has been getting my vegie garden up and running. “Hopefully we will be able to sustain ourselves with all the vegies and the girls too, I’ll be able to supply them. “Plus, I’ve just bought some more chooks, so we’ve got fresh eggs coming in. We’re on the way,� Kate said proudly.

Along with her many and varied chores, Kate also steadfastly supports Alan in his commitment to resurrecting top pacer Melpark Major’s derailed racing career.

last school I was at, I was there 19 years and in that time I was a classroom teacher, librarian and lucky enough to be the environmental studies teacher for the last four years.

“Alan looks after him like a sore toe. I sometimes think that he will bring him in one night and sit him " [ [ when the frost starts.�

“I had to develop a program for that and I taught the kids about growing native trees and composting and feeding chooks‌. just had a lovely time.â€?

And Kate would be there to feed them both!

Another bonus of the long service reward is that Kate’s happy to sit in the passenger seat of the truck with Amy when she’s travelling with the horses.

“One of my main jobs was to make sure that everybody was fed and watered, make sure they had the energy to keep doing what they were doing,� she said. “I think the world can run a lot smoother if everyone is properly fed.� Kate looks and sounds very comfortably at ease down on the farm but she admits she will miss teaching the youth of tomorrow.

“If Amy is off somewhere and doesn’t have someone to go with her, I’ll jump in and we’ll head off together. I’m not much help but I am good company.� Words that a lot of people headed by Alan - will readily +

“I thoroughly enjoyed it. The

J U LY 2010

45

HRV Welcomes A New Chairman THE mystery has finally been solved - Ken Latta is Harness Racing Victoria’s newest Chairman.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls ended months of speculation by making the long-awaited announcement on March 31. The unveiling coincided with outgoing Chairman Neil Busse’s final day at the helm, after a nine-year term. Latta brings extensive management experience to the top job, most recently in executive roles with the Metropolitan Fire and Emergencies Board, and the Victoria Police. He was an Executive Director for the Victoria Police for 10 years prior to

4

M AY 2010

being appointed Metropolitan Fire and Emergencies Board CEO in 2007. Latta previously served on the Victoria University, CRIMTRAC and Victorian College of Agriculture Boards and his significant history in providing policing and education services to the community was recognised with a Public Service Medal in the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He boasts personal racing industry experience as an owner and breeder of thoroughbred horses, and commenced a three-year term with HRV on April 6. In announcing the appointment, the Minister predicted Latta will be an asset to HRV as an organisation and the industry as a whole.

“Harness racing in Victoria is going from strength to strength and I know Ken will rise to the challenge of both consolidating and building on the current success,” Hulls suggested. He also recognised the outgoing Chairman, commending the time, effort and expertise he brought to the challenging position. “Neil oversaw some significant changes in Victoria, not the least of which was the creation of Tabcorp Park at Melton. “That project has enabled the industry to take control of its own destiny and Neil should be acknowledged both for his substantial contribution to Tabcorp Park and the significant strides forward harness racing in this State has taken under his guidance,” Hulls said.

KEN LATTA

M AY 2010

5

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MA AY Y 20 2010 010 10

SAM Trecasse and Tony Peacock had bigger goals than the Melton Saddlery Victorian Country Cups Championship in mind when they bought Ohoka Nevada from New Zealand.

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