Racehorse TALK

Not sure Wily, could try contacting http://www.gmptv.com.au/ or Sky.

Wonderful episode today on SKY...... "Remember When 1959"      brilliantly clear black & white newsreels of most of the great races including one of the InterDom final with the great Cadeucus giving an impossible start which even he wasn't up to.

Macdougal's Brisbane Cup,Metro and Melb Cup  a great year for the NZ bred owned by a back country Qld grazier.

Second Earl just touched off in the Stradbroke by Grey Ghost made amends in the Doomben 10,000 with Andy Tindall aboard.

And Book Link winning the Queens Cup for the Best family all shown in brilliant black & white presentation by Princess Alex.

Russell Maddock darting through the inside to win the Dbn Cup on Earlwood that was a great day.

Tudor Hill winning the Epsom or Doncaster I'd like to forget...held a bet of a quid ew after forgetting to put it on for a lady who I worked with in those days.....got up at 33/1

Yes I love the show, unfortunately I was there to see a lot of them( when I say Unfortunately, I was Glad to be there then and they are great memories but you know what that means for me now   )

By the way Arsenal I had a similar story to yours, I was going to the races in the early 60's in a float with an apprentice Jockey who was a good friend at the time, we were both only kids, he had a ride, I think it was at Randwick, he gave me a quid to put on it for him as he thought it would win,( we were paid 2 quid a week back then so it was a big bet for either of us) I had had a pretty good day the week before and was going to the races with a Fortune (5 quid) I was going to win a fortune and never have to work again, anyway when I got to the race that my mate had a ride in I was broke except for his quid, I looked at the form, decided his horse had no chance and there was a "good thing" in the race, what to do?? I backed the "good thing" of course with my mates quid, it was 4 in front at the furlong, I was patting myself on the back for being a genius(it was about 8/1) I was going to split it with my mate and I thought he would be pleased, then ...........flashing down the outside was.....you guessed it, my mate on a 40/1 shot and nailed mine in the shadows of the post.......how do you think the ride home in the back of the float went??? there was no way I could ever pay him the 40 quid I owed him, he just said forget it but I never did, it still gives me a twinge every time I think of it

This could have been highlighted. 

Jim Pike......it looks like you and me are probably the only ones still kicking around on here from those great days.

All those too young to remember or born since missed out on some of the best years of Australian racing.

In 1959 Gold Stakes won the Newmarket H'cap worth 4000 quid......according to this episode

At a guess my wage would have been about 500/600 a year.

How did we manage on such a pittance........and no TAB's to boost prizemoney.....and no complaints from owners as there are today.

I remember back in the mid 60's the Australian workers union moved on the racing industry to improve the wages for apprentices and Strappers( apprentices were on 2 quid a week and Strappers were on 3 quid a week) we worked 7 days a week and were on call 24/7 we couldn't leave the stables without the bosses permission, when the union said that you can't exploit the weakest members of society and campaigned for a "living wage" around 10 quid a week, I remember the boss and a few of his Trainer mates reckoned it would be the end of the racing industry, threatened to sack the lot of us, bloody parasites!! we got the raise and racing went on surprise surprise!!
Yes they were great days, actually I would have worked for free, I never considered it work anyway, riding as many horses as you want!!
I loved every minute of it, I did get to go to the races every Saturday with a free lift(in the float) and a free ticket in the gate, what more could a young horse lover/Punter want??

Yes I remember Swift Peter well, pretty sure he was trained at Newcastle and my guess would be that Ray Selkrig was the Jock, yes I haven't held a bet since that one and only time and I never would, I don't even lay horses on Betfair!! I just had an epiphany!! Now that I am thinking of it maybe that one time has had a psychological effect on me, maybe that is why I don't want to lay horses ?? Yes that is a breakthrough, now I know I have a good reason for my aversion to laying!!

Got an email from graham McNeice and for some unknown reason the series is not on DVD

you mean unknown to you or Graham?? seems to me that there would be a good demand for it to be released on DVD wonder why they wouldn't? I would certainly buy a set, the memories are great, would be nice if they cut the fashion stuff    but that not withstanding it is a fantastic series and a welcome addition to any lover of Thoroughbred racing's Home

I asked Graham, via email, if it was available on DVD. His reply was that " no, it is not"

I wonder why??