Author Topic: Down Memory Lane (Read 162046 times)

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-04, 07:45 PM **Reply #725** »

Watching the TV series First Dates on Monday night was an interesting experience..unfortunately for the participants the persons who select supposedly compatible couples rarely get it right...... this week most of the couples seemed to enjoy the evening lots of smiles and jokes..... one couple who appeared to be suited even danced a version of the salsa...after the meal the couples were interviewed and while most if not all expressing a desire to have a second date it appears that it in most cases there are changes of mind....and there's no reunion .....in this last episode a very presentable female jockey named Laura was matched with a landscape gardener who was most enthusiastic in meeting such a beautiful potential partner......while he was a nice enough looking fellow it might have helped had he had even a basic knowledge of racing but he failed to impress Laura which by his reaction was a massive disappointment for him ......very forthright young lady Laura said she didn't think they were suited...a very wise decision IMO Laura can do much better and I hope she finds someone who will make her happy.

Giddy Up

arthur · « 2018-Jul-04, 09:02 PM **Reply #726** »

You obviously don't think that these 'reality' shows are scripted . .

Sadly, I am a skeptic . . which spoils much of the fun in my life, I know . . and I even harbour grave concerns about 'The Chase'

BTW . . I probably shouldn't comment on "Fur States" as I have never watched it . . but I am sure it would be an "interesting experience"

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-05, 09:52 AM **Reply #727** »

Quote from: arthur on 2018-Jul-04, 09:02 PM

You obviously don't think that these 'reality' shows are scripted . .

Sadly, I am a skeptic . . which spoils much of the fun in my life, I know . . and I even harbour grave concerns about 'The Chase'

BTW . . I probably shouldn't comment on "Fur States" as I have never watched it . . but I am sure it would be an "interesting experience"

It'll be more interesting Arthur if you were a 20 something and looking for love

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-05, 09:56 AM **Reply #728** »

I’m about 2/3 of the way through Raymond Lowndes ‘ excellent book on Harness Racing History called “From Kedron To Albion Park”1880-1968 it’s full of stories of what life was like before night trotting started in Qld at Albion Park.....and lots of pictures ....a very good read..... I’m trying to locate Book 1 but so far without any success.

We know Standardbreds are tough as there’s tales of horses pulling a milk cart around the streets during the week and saddling up at a show or gymkhana on the weekend often racing twice on the same day. ...it wasn’t uncommon for horses to be loaded on a freight train to race that day a few hundred miles away and back home that night....and back to pulling the milk cart on Monday.

Many trainers and drivers grew up the hard way having a horse or two as a hobby and doing everything themselves .In the early days following the show circuit gave many the opportunity and experience to compete on the registered tracks for very small reward..... horses were cheap in those times.... those on their marks down south were brought up here to be sold where they could earn their keep.

When night trotting started in Brisbane in 1968 the track was packed 17,000 through the gates and we saw an influx of southern horsemen who decided life is great in the Sunshine State and they settled here and many would have made a good living. Curly Adios driven by Sam Zammit won the first race under lights at Albion Park on 7th September 1968....other winners were Princess Thor,Stormy Water,Hamilcar Chief,Froggie’s Choice, Morris Power and Chev Vonne...winning drivers Sam Zammit,Peter Mawby, Doug Coy, Ned Coleman , Alf Merson, Peter Wombwell and Alf Phillis.

While most of the characters in the book have long since gone there are many names of trainers that I knew and were friends with. I’ve always found trotting people to be very welcoming , generous and good company.

One of my old trotting acquaintances who I haven’t seen for yonks since he relocated interstate is quoted in the book as having confessed that he had lots of help and advice along the way since starting out but the best advice he received which he never forgot came from an older and more experienced trainer/driver who told him “You’ve got to get a quid ....get it as honest as you can, but get it “

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-06, 08:51 AM **Reply #729** »

Recently a couple of weeks ago following a news report of fire destroying the lyceum Hotel at Longreach I recalled meeting the local district secretary of the AWU at the time I could picture his face but I couldn't remember his name...now its come back to me ..Alf Cain was his name ..my memory is back...better later than never

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-13, 08:11 PM **Reply #730** »

At golf today hit a wayward drive off the tee on the 6th left into the trees parallel to Pine Mountain Rd usually it's not too difficult to chip one out from there but today I had the misfortune to find the ball in a plover's nest with both birds very aggressive......luckily one of my partners was able to retrieve the ball without being attacked and I finished with a bogey...plovers are a nuisance on the golf course they build their nests on the ground and will attack if approached....... the best advice I've found is don't make eye contact...also ran into Quade Cooper who was ahead of us he said it's a big match tomorrow for Souths that's where some of my grandsons play I wished him well....he plays fairly regularly at Pacific only has to train play in the club games on saturdays and gets paid high six figures.
Giddy Up

PoisonPen7 · « 2018-Jul-13, 09:27 PM **Reply #731** »

Quote from: Arsenal on 2018-Jul-13, 08:11 PM

At golf today hit a wayward drive off the tee on the 6th left into the trees parallel to Pine Mountain Rd usually it's not too difficult to chip one out from there but today I had the misfortune to find the ball in a plover's nest with both birds very aggressive......luckily one of my partners was able to retrieve the ball without being attacked and I finished with a bogey...plovers are a nuisance on the golf course they build their nests on the ground and will attack if approached....... the best advice I've found is don't make eye contact...also ran into Quade Cooper who was ahead of us he said it's a big match tomorrow for Souths that's where some of my grandsons play I wished him well....he plays fairly regularly at Pacific only has to train play in the club games on saturdays and gets paid high six figures.
Giddy Up

Did you take a shot penalty for your mate getting your ball back?

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-14, 09:46 AM **Reply #732** »

No...but it's an interesting question taking relief from danger.
I'll look up the rules there's bound to be a decision burrowing animals is one phrase I can remember .

Fore.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-19, 07:40 PM **Reply #733** »

I'm getting towards the end of Raymond Lowndes historical record of harness racing in Qld and finding out about the trainers and drivers who made a living following the shows some would put a hurricane lamp under the sulky and travel to meetings returning at night hence the need for the hurricane lamp others would travel by train to and fro on the same day while others would race several times a day at shows or registered meetings....... once night trotting started at Albion Park this racing at two venues wasn't permitted.

One racehorse trainer I came across in my early days of never missing a Saturday meeting in town was Kevin Wallen who came from down Wynnum way ..... I never knew he was involved in trotting until I read about him in the book ..on the way to the races he collected bundles of thistles and they were wrapped in a hessian bag in the race day stalls.....one horse I recall he turned from a rogue into a winner Campere using a sulky to quieten the horse ...we got the tip one day at Eagle Farm waiting for the bookies to put up the prices on Campere 20/1 and it won....I had a feeling Doug Messingham was apprenticed to Kev Wallen but I may be wrong.

Giddy Up

gunbower · « 2018-Jul-19, 08:28 PM **Reply #734** »

You are quite right Arsenal. Kevin Wallen was one of our better known "money " trainers in the 1960's and 70's and Doug Messingham was definitely apprenticed to him at some time. Though I think Messingham also may have been apprenticed to others including Harry Hatten at various times. Messingham himself seemed to gravitate to other betting stables such as Alf Sands at the Gold Coast and later on to the notorious George Way yard.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-20, 06:17 PM **Reply #735** »

I'm still finding things about trotting that I hadn't heard before........ I only took an interest in 1968 when night trotting began at Albion Park.....by reading Raymond Lowndes book From Kedron to Albion Park (Book 2) I found this intriguing passage about a ring in at Rocklea in 1963......this is the story.

Way back in 1963 there was a ring in at Rocklea involving the same horse..... Raymond Lowndes wrote in his book that a well performed Sydney pacer Glendale Rex was substituted for Carol Mead on two occasions the 30th March and 13th April 1963 winning by big margins and starting at 2’s on both days.

The first day the margin was 15 lengths from Master Field while the second win was by 12 lengths off a handicap of 12yards.

Raymond wrote “ Swift action by Chief Steward Jack Gregg resulted in two southern drivers receiving LIFE. It was stated in the evening press a few days later that the carcass of the real Carol Mead was found along with another unidentified horse burning at the property of a local owner ...who claimed innocence but was charged under Rule 114 and outed for 6 months .Police inquiries continued with further action taking place some months later.”

Unfortunately that’s all the details provided in the book.

Wanting to find out who was involved and what if any criminal charges were brought I searched newspapers archives where I located a report in the SMH dated 17th May 1963 which identified one Alan James Thompson a well known owner ,trainer and driver as being disqualified for life on the Tuesday.

The paper reported that Thompson had booked stabling for 9 horses with Redcliffe trainer Pat Sharry two of which were found dead in mysterious circumstances on 24th April 1963

Police were endeavouring to locate Thompson to assist in their investigation his address was given as Oakdale Knackery, Eastern Creek NSW. I haven’t been able to identify the second “southern driver receiving LIFE” or the outcome of any police charges against Thompson or the other person.

The SMH reports that Thompson bolted with the cops in hot pursuit ......surprisingly leaving 6 horses behind with all his gear and late model panel van at Pat Sharry’s Redcliffe stables.

A later report in the SMH quotes Detective Sargent J J Ryan giving evidence in the Brisbane Police Court on charges of Fraud on the Rocklea trotting club by Thompson 42 at Eastern Creek together with a horse dealer Anthony Zammit 49 of Eastern Creek who sold Carol Mead (Mede in this report) to Thompson.

Zammit told DS Ryan Thompson told him he had another horse which looked the same and he could win a lot of money if he came to Brisbane.

Zammit did come and admitted he backed the horse when it ran second..he said Carol Mead cost him a lot of money(getting beaten )

The hearing was to continue on Friday but as yet I haven’t located any report on how it finished although it would be a surprise if both escaped conviction.

At the time of this trial police had taken possession of the horse Glendale Rex as Carol Mead had earlier been reported as dead with another unidentified horse possibly on Pat Sharry’s place but that’s just a guess.

Hopefully RQ will have former QTCL files which will reveal the outcome of this case.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-20, 07:49 PM **Reply #736** »

Very frustrating trying to find the result of fraud charges against the ring in organisers nothing in the CM which is a surprise SMH already quoted and The Age covered the story on 10th July 1963 .
The Age reported of a police line up of 23 horses similar in appearance at the Oxley Police establishment a person named Daniel Joseph Ingram identified the black gelding Glendale Rex from amongst the herd of 23........ he called out the name Rex and the horse came out of the yard on its own so identity established ....case closed you would think.

Glendale Rex (Carol Mead orMede) was obviously something to bet on in its Rocklea races..... evidence was it held the 9 furlong record at Harold Park ......... At Rocklea it started off scratch the first run and 12yds the second ...........when properly handicapped under its real name it would have been off 120 yards behind.

Evidence from a Bruce Davison of Eastern Creek told the court he sold the horse to Zammit at a Parramatta Livestock sale for 60 guineas and Thompson bought it for 75 pounds although the report states it was leased from Zammit to Thompson . The NSW TC Registrar told the court Carol Mede had been cleared to race in Qld but no clearance had been issued for Glendale Rex .....the hearing continues.

That's as far as I can take it tonight.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Aug-02, 07:13 PM **Reply #737** »

I've reached the end of Raymond Lowndes book on the history of harness racing in Qld and I'm waiting on advice from the State Archives on what decision the Police Court made on the ring in organisers .......they would have to get time if the court was fair dinkum . I found an interesting chapter on a man named Les Edwards who grew up with horses on a property in Villawood in NSW .When his father died Les was only 15 and too young to be licensed but being urged by his mother he went to an Inglis sale in Sydney and bought an unraced mare 4yo named Sarafran for 50 guineas.

Once he got her ready to race his uncle advised him he needed to put it a mature person's name to be eligible to start in a race so he took that on board and registered the horse in the name of the fellow his uncle suggested. Now that was fixed the false owner /trainer entered the horse in a race at Cowra. Les and his jockey put the horse in a horse box and travelled by train to the track but Sarafran didn't jump when the barrier strands were released. After a quick course in barrier manners from the old clerk of the course Les lined her up on the following Monday and she led all the way.
.
A few weeks later the fictitious owner/trainer who Les had trusted to do the right thing claimed to be the horse's rightful owner and Les was called before the AJC to please explain .After telling the stewards his age he was promptly told to leave and that was his first lesson in the school of hard knocks.

Sarafran never responded to the new owner's training and never ran even a place so in a sense justice was done.

In 1950 Les Edwards would have been 21 he attended a charity auction where he put his hand up and bought the pacer Minton's Wish for 50 quid and that was the start of a very successful career in harness racing winning numerous races in NSW and in Qld. In 1989 he retired from trainer/driving and was appointed to the NSW Trotting Tribunal on which he served for 6 years. About the same time he went back to thoroughbreds winning many races with Ribobelle and Silver Streak which won 15 races one at Doomben ridden by Chris Munce.

An interesting character Les Edwards.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Aug-29, 07:18 PM **Reply #738** »

Thanks to the diligent library staff at the Public Library I now know the fate of Alan James Thompson and Anthony Zammit both of NSW who were charged with fraud against the Rocklea Trotting Club in 1963 by substituting the better performed Glendale Rex for the moderate Carol Meade ........QTCL Chief Steward Jack Gregg gave evidence that in one race the ring in GR started off scr when its real handicap should have been 130 yards...Thompson was sentenced to 6 months by Judge Taylor while Zammit was discharged after Crown Prosecutor Bob Bavington issuing a nolle prosceui.

Giddy Up