The History Channel

savethegame · September 2025

JayJay said:

savethegame said:
Did read once looking for another article PHILOCK won a jackpot regarding x amount winners,
Philock did win a jackpot at Ascot.

Sure it was Trots Jackpot early 60s read it old Kalgoorlie Miner, will have to go looking, it mentioned his real name funny with those jackpots seen where they named them and address.as well.
Know have mentioned on this site previously regards
1958 Fremantle Cup,won by Imperial, knew the trainer had cracked his son in birdcage for beating stable-mate Sultana.which was heavily backed Favourite . what i didn't know until last week reading old Kalgoorlie miner his Father refused to attend
tropy presentation. he was to wild Sultana had got beat

Headline in Kalgoorlie Miner Stable wins Fremantle Cup but wrong horse wins. Goeson to say Bill Johnsonwas to upset to recieve trophy for winning cup he was hugepunter; flucs 9/4 into 6/4. Stable-mate was 40/1

JayJay · September 2025

Son of Philock says it was Ascot.

JayJay · September 2025

The Richmond Raceway Jackpot

Firstly a bit of context, The "Richmond Park" jackpot started in June 1957 (2 months prior to the Gloucester Park Jackpot) and it was prior to the TAB being established. SP bookmakers had just been "legitimized" by the licensing of individual off course betting shops (most SP bookies became legal over night) but there was no central pool and even though some of the individual licensees operated in a networked "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" type arrangement, there was certainly no centralised pool mechanism to operate a Jackpot statewide.

The licensing of off course bookmakers saw a plunge in on course attendance and on course turnover. In an attempt to boost attendance, a ban was put in place on race broadcasts, a failure, and after a watering down to allow 6WF to broadcast the last 3 events, that was also abandoned in favour of a return to full broadcasts.

In order to boost attendance and on course turnover, the idea of a Jackpot was thought up, you had to be on course to enter, it cost 5/- (shillings) per ticket and you had to pick the winners of the last 5 races. Selections had to be handwritten (in duplicate) by number and written word and both teh original (retained by the club) and the duplicate had to be stamped.

"Richmond Park" was first cab off the rank and it was successful fro day 1. By early 1958, by virtue of no one selecting the 5 winners, the pool "jackpotted" with a carryover of £15,000 pound being declared for the April 12, 1958 meeting. Big backers sat up and took notice and they headed on course, the gates were opened early in the afternoon and over 25,000 tickets were sold in 2 hours. Extra staff were put on, one punter bought £800 pounds worth of entries and it was a bonanza for the club...they all had to fed and watered.

However, all active tickets foundered in the 4th leg when Final Derby won. A consolation prize of £3,000 was paid and a carryover amount of £25,000 was set for the May 10th, 1958 meeting at Fremantle.

Big time Eastern States punters got on board, syndicates were formed in order to try and claim the anticipated £50,000 prize. The Fremantle Club announced that 120,000 tickets had been ordered and that the gates would open in the morning. It must have ordered more because 128,952 tickets were sold.

Bookmaker Bill Mack purchased 5,000 tickets but found the task of filling them in too much and returned 1000 tickets. Once again, no one selected the five winners.....Mack was still alive after 3 legs but faltered on race 7. Two other punters got the first 4 legs but missed out on race 8. Volcano won race 4 for the Johnsons, Clarionet (N.Willows) won race 5, Rocklee Lass (Cliff Collett) won race 6 from Minstrel King, Hilton Mint won race 7 for Ernie Stewart (not the swab case, that would be at it's next start) and Williams Choice won the last leg for Max Johnson from Jackie Scott (Harry Miller) and Billy Collette (Mick Cooper). This was the "Jackpot" that Chariots was referring to but it wasn't the £92,000 pound Jackpot. After a consolation of £10,000 pounds was declared, there was a carryover of £43,190 pounds which was to be the foundation of the upcoming meeting on Monday June 2nd, 1958, a public holiday.

The Jackpot was now having a disastrous effect on business in Fremantle, people stoped spending, the jackpot was all that was being talked about, a lot of money was "out of circulation" and the government had to do something and it did, stipulating that all £10,000 pound would have to be distributed no matter what. In effect a ceiling of £10,000 pound was put in place with pool payouts of 10% for 3 winners, 25% for 4 winners and 65% for the 5 winners put in place. If you picked 5 winners, you also were counted as having a winning ticket in both the 4 winner and 3 winner allocation.

The club ordered 280,000 tickets for the June 2 meeting, and employed an extra 230 staff. Syndicates of "expert form analysts" were formed, individuals flew over from the Eastern States, the gates opened at 7.00am and by the start of racing, the course was packed to capacity. Prior to race 4, the tickets and money had been counted and the pool of £92,000 was declared, the biggest ever in Australia, surpassing the previous record at Canterbury Racecourse the previous January.

Brawler 7/2 (Les Poyser) won race 4, Noonquest 7/4 fav (Ray Walton) won race 5, Silver Mane 7/1 (Max Johnson) won race 6, Darby Nelson 14/1(Cyril Martin) race 7 and Hilton Mint (Ernie Stewart)7/2 beat Peter Collette in Race 8. Hilton Mint would later go positive and be disqualified but it was too late for the punters who held 4 valid tickets on Peter Collette. The results were later amended to make Peter Collette the winner.

There were at last 8 winning tickets, each worth £8,277/11/- and a Narrogin syndicate of businessmen and farmers held two tickets. Other winners were a Wagin Syndicate headed by Aub Ward who had 340 tickets, Geoffrey and Mrs Williams, Mario Bordin, Mrs M.A Mcleod who bought only one ticket and Mrs B Meakins, wife of a police sergeant who also bought just the one ticket. A Melbourne man invested £2,500 and out of his 10,000 tickets he had just the one winning entry.

The crowd for that June 2 meeting was officially posted at 21,000 but with all manner of stories of incentive payments to drivers of up to £6,500 pounds, and offers of 100's of pounds not to win, many trainers hoped it would never get that big again and they were supported by traders and business houses in Fremantle but it was great while it lasted.

There were dozens of hard luck stories but the hardest of the all were the Peter Collette punter. The Jackpot continued on but never reached the heights of 1958 and when the TAB came into being, it disappeared altogether.

Trust that sorts out any confusion...was very deep rabbit hole. Still trying to get my head around 21,000 people at Richmond Raceway.

JayJay · September 2025

1978 The First $100,000 WA Cup

Part 1. The Politics.

The first $100k WA Cup in January 1978 was a great moment for WA Harness Racing. By comparison, the Melbourne Cup held in November 1977 won by Gold And Black was worth $150,000 and it seems inconceivable for there to be anything close to stakes parity between the two races in 2025. For the record, the WA Cup will be worth $450,000 next December whilst this years Melbourne Cup will be worth $10 million dollars.

Whilst the racing at the 77/78 Carnival was something to behold, it was the incredible battles going on within the Halls of Power that dominated the lead in to the decision to double the stake money from $50,000 to $100,000.

Though it was rarely plain sailing at the WATA Committee level, the ructions, personality clashes, claims, counter claims, court battles, election coups, signed accusatory affidavits, dismissals, back stabbings and retirements were next level.

The scene was set early days in the lead up when Radio Station 6IX jacked up about broadcast fees in March 1977 and the TAB promptly bought 25% of rival station 6PR in order to guarantee race broadcasts.

A Royal Visit, usually a bonanza, by Queen Elizabeth for the $35,000 Queen Elizabeth Cup (won by Fastease for Bob Godecke over Ala Moana and Tavis) fell flat when a small crowd attended amid claims that the elevated stake was a "waste of money". Some may recall the most memorable part of the night was when Bob Godecke dropped the trophy at the presentation.

This prompted WATA committeeman Wayne Bradshaw to declare that industry was a "sinking ship", it was uneconomical to continue to race pacers in WA and that he would be selling his breeding stud. The Committee then asked Dr Bradshaw to resign, an offer that he declined.It wasn't sinking that fast.

An affidavit from Gordon House then alleged that Bradshaw had made defamatory remarks about Deputy Chief Steward Ken Ford, other members of the committee (Ron Porter and Jim Leahy) and prominent trainer driver Trevor Warwick (with whom House raced horses). There were further allegations involving Jim Deveraux and politician Ray O'Connor. It was a febrile environment and Bradshaw counter punched with Supreme Court writs and a Special General Meeting of the WATA, which endorsed Bradshaw.

By June, all matters were resolved out of court, all allegations withdrawn and Bradshaw declared his "full support" for President Jim Leahy. It was an uneasy peace which wouldn't last.

Meanwhile, long standing Secretary of the WATA, Ern Perry, retired, Leahy announced an increase in stakes, the WA Cup would be upped to $100,000 and the Australian Pacing Championship would be held in WA in 1979. But this was all against a back drop of owner Russell Roberts declaring he would not race his horses in WA whilst the current stewards panel was in control, all stemming from a $400 fine imposed at the previous WA Cup for slamming a door on exit from the stewards room. With Ex Adios and Another Eden already racing over East, Roberts agreed that he would time trial Pure Steel but not at Gloucester Park. He did so at Richmond Raceway and Steelo stopped the clock at 1.58.7. He then sent him east to continue racing but in spite of a defamation writ being issued against him by Chairman of Stewards Don Thomas, the lure of the $100k was too much and Steelo returned to campaign in WA.

WATA Committee elections were held, and a big field, including Mal Brown, contested the vacancies. Bradshaw topped the poll, and was joined by Ron Davies, Darryl Hollingworth, Jim Snooks and Chris Hodgson, with committeemen Somers and Moylan losing their seats. Big Mal ran last. When the full committee convened, Jim Leahy and Ron Porter didn't receive "full support" and were deposed as President and Vice President. Bob Treasure was installed as President with Davies as his deputy. Some thought Treasure was a soothing interim appointment as the term "committee coup" was bandied about by he vanquished but he proved to be a steady if unspectacular hand.

Just as World Series Cricket was about to reward the coffers of the WATA with a a lucrative deal, the peace was shattered when the committee, in an attempt to solve the impasse with Russell Roberts, asked Chief Steward Thomas to retire and become "Racing Administrator. He declined but Roberts bought Pure Steel back to race anyway. The committee were very aware of just how big a draw card the champion Pure Steel was. Thomas would later retire in 1979 aged 60.

Such was the domination of the political back and forth, reported almost daily in the local papers, that some could be forgiven for thinking that a fantastic carnival of actual racing was about to break out.

Pure Steel, Royal Force, Milson Edition and Virgil Queen had represented WA in the Adelaide version of the Australian Pacing Championship won by the magnificent Rip Van Winkle for audacious trainer/driver Michael Van Der Kemp. The $2,200 dollar yearling sale purchase by the relatively unknown NSW horseman had swept all before him as the dominant 2, 3 and 4 year old horse of his time, and when Van Der Kemp declared Rip to be "the best horse in Australia", heckles rose, chins jutted out, egos were on the line and it was game on for the 100 grand. It had the effect of pushing all the poisonous politics into the background even if it was only a temporary reprieve. With Paleface Adios, Nixon Adios, Little William, Yerilla Court, Annas Ann, Velvet Prince and numerous other quality horses nominated for the series, the Cup race qualifiers, racing from the mobile for the first time over 3000 metres, looked to be an event not to be missed. It would conclude in sensational circumstances with the eventual victor galloping over the line and produce a fantastic press photograph.

Part 2 The Racing (to follow).

Markovina · September 2025

savethegame said:

JayJay said:

savethegame said:
Did read once looking for another article PHILOCK won a jackpot regarding x amount winners,
Philock did win a jackpot at Ascot.
Sure it was Trots Jackpot early 60s read it old Kalgoorlie Miner, will have to go looking, it mentioned his real name funny with those jackpots seen where they named them and address.as well.
Know have mentioned on this site previously regards
1958 Fremantle Cup,won by Imperial, knew the trainer had cracked his son in birdcage for beating stable-mate Sultana.which was heavily backed Favourite . what i didn't know until last week reading old Kalgoorlie miner his Father refused to attend
tropy presentation. he was to wild Sultana had got beat

Headline in Kalgoorlie Miner Stable wins Fremantle Cup but wrong horse wins. Goeson to say Bill Johnsonwas to upset to recieve trophy for winning cup he was hugepunter; flucs 9/4 into 6/4. Stable-mate was 40/1

It was a different world back then a no nonsense world

When you say quote " Where they named them , address as well "

Different topic , but back in the late 60s early 70s , if you didnt in your tax return in the particular year - current year , declare all your income then they would be named publicly , in the major newspapers - this was seen as an effective deterrant

I can remember one year in that era , Harry White ( amongst others ) was named in the newspapers as not declaring all his income and thus evading tax , hah , hah , hah

Imagine that happening today , geez all the whingers would be out in force

savethegame · September 2025

Marko--- Key point i used in the famous alleged ring in story regards PALFRESCO--VITAL, way back when boats had passenger list in papers. Such intriguing happenings that trainer F,Thomas had arrived in FREMANTLE aboard Maunada with three horses august 12 1936.-

But trainer F,Thomas was on passenger list on board boat called Duntroon which berthed in Fremantle harbour 28th July, two days before court case when Palfresco Caulfield Cup lease was terminated. And returned to his original owner. plus, all the other happenings, Story that had everything,

JayJay · October 2025

Okay, Grand Final weekend(s) done and dusted, League and reserves Premierships for Deanmill,

East Perth just missed (ripped off) and my beloved Roy Boys destroyed the Cats.

Just how many times can you watch the Grand Final Replay? Answer: Well when you have been following Fitzroy since 1962, the answer is simple.....Not enough. Lachie Neale is as good a player as I have seen in the last 30 years and Will Ashcroft is gifted.

So back to the Racing.

1978 The First $100,000 WA Cup (Part 2)

Behind all the parry and thrust, lies and spin, statements of loyalty and backstabbing, displays of foul self entitlement (what has changed?) and the shadows of corrupt practices and political manoeuvring, the quality of nominations and the presence of the best horse I have ever seen, Pure Steel, and the challenger, the hugely talented and rarely acknowledged Rip Van Winkle, was a promoters dream. The media, both written and television, provided blanket coverage of what was to be a sensational carnival.

Steelo was the undisputed King, holder of both the Hunter Cup and the WA Cup, and at the top of his game. Enter stage right Rip Van Winkle.

Purchased by relatively unknown Maitland trainer Michael Van Der Kemp for $2,200 at the 1975 Parramatta Yearling Sale, the Noel Simpson bred son of Thor Hanover swept away the opposition including Sammy Karamea, as a 2 year old. He was nigh on unbeatable, winning all the feature races all over the Eastern States, 14 starts, 10 wins and 3 placings, and barring some poor standing start beginnings, he would have been undefeated. He was voted Australian 2 year old pacer of the year and attracted an offer of $100,000 from Brian Gath, which was rejected.

As a 3 year old, even better. 22 starts 18 wins, four seconds, $111k in stake money, won 11 in a row, completed the treble of the NSW Derby, Sires and Southern Cross stakes and won features in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Have champ, will travel. He was named Australian 3 year old of the year and was the first three year old to be named Australian Horse of the year. He was a champion.

Would he come back as a 4 year old was the question? Would he what, he became the first 4 year old to win the Spring Cup at Harold Park and before heading across to WA, he swept the Australian Pacing Championship at Globe Derby Park beating Milson Edition and Pure Steel. A week later, he came from last in a Free For All to smash Paleface Adios and set a new track record of 1.57.4. Michael van Der Kemp had every right to roll into Perth claiming he had the best horse in Australia. Rip had taken his stake earnings to an amazing $194k, unheard of back then.

There was not only Pure Steel, a winner of the previous Cup from 20 metres, to contend with. Fred Kersley had taken over the brilliant young horse Nixon Adios after the leading juvenile trainer Jesse Moore had set the 2 year old world alight with him and had progressed this star 3 and then 4 year old, through some extremely impressive wins in the WA Derby and the Christmas Gift. Throw in Royal Force, Little William, Virgil Queen and Milson Edition and it was game on.

Steelo failed in the first round of heats with first blood going to Rip but he reasserted himself as favourite after heat wins in round 2 and 3, with wins over Nixon Adios in both instances. Rip also recorded two heat wins and the final field was set. Paleface Adios (with a heat win) and Royal Force also qualified but Royal Force was a late scratching with swelling to his near fore and Noble Bill came into the field. Velvet Prince, Little William, Annas Ann, Yerilla Court and Milson Edition made up the remaining challengers to Rip, Steelo, Paleface and Nixon. 3000m from the mobile for $100,000.....the anticipation was huge and a capacity crowd filled all vantage points at Gloucester Park. In 1978, trotting was King as far as night time entertainment was concerned in Perth.

The race was a triumph for Pure Steel and Coulson . Coulson had Steelo in front after a lap had been covered and looked set to record an easy victory.he simply ran the opposition ragged. However, 10 metres from the post he hit his knee and and broke into a gallop. He semi skipped over the line 2 metres clear of Nixon Adios who was storming home but never really looked like catching the great stayer.

The hard luck story of the race was the 3rd placed Rip Van Winkle. He had a torrid run, battered from pillar to post. Both tyres on his cart were deflated, one came off the rim completely and the other wrapped itself around the hub placing him at a severe disadvantage. It was an enormous effort from him and flew against all the local commentary that he was a just a "speedy squib". He was anything but. Les Poyser, who was suspended for "tightening" Rip on the first turn felt aggrieved. "I was made the scapegoat" he said. But Michael and Gwen Van Der Kemp felt more than a little aggrieved themselves after the race but showed more grace than some of the abrasive locals, when they acknowledged that Steelo was a great champion.

Noble Bill ran a great race in coming from last to finish fourth.

It is true that in early February, Pure Steel was acclaimed the "Iron Horse of Australian Pacing" after being given a herculean task by his driver in the Hunter Cup which he won by running Rip Van Winkle into the ground at Moonee Valley causing Rip to miss the Interdominion Series, a series in which Steelo also underperformed in not making the final. The "know alls" said Steelo had broken Rips heart and ruined him forever.

The records suggest otherwise as Rip would return, still as a 4 year old (remembering Steelo was a seasoned 6 year old) to win the NSW 4 year old championship and his heats and Final of the Sir Clive Uhr at Albion Park (beating the champion Maoris Idol) to round out his 4 year old campaign with 26 starts, 20 wins and 4 placings for another $174k in stakes. Pure Steel had 24 starts for 12 wins and 6 placings and $201k in stakes.

I reiterate that Pure Steel was the best horse I ever saw but Rip Van Winkle's record deserves far more respect than he received, he was also a great horse.

Subsequent to the $100,000 Cup, the political games at the WATA once again surfaced with Deputy Chief Steward Ken Ford being dismissed without notice or reason, his four hour appeal hearing which was closed to the press, resulted in no reinstatement. Ford would later move to the ill fated attempt to establish harness racing In Macau as chief steward, a high profile venture that petered out into oblivion

Jim Leahy was deposed from his position on the Australian Trotting Council by new president Bob treasure and Committeeman Chris Hodgson, both Leahy and Ron Porter eventually called it quits and resigned from the committee stating that block voting against them made life intolerable. Dr Ern Manea and John Barnett joined as replacements and provided some much needed stability when they joined the committee.

Clive Martin was appointed Chairman of Stewards and soon made his presence felt suspending 63 drivers in a two month period for crossing, tightening, pushing out and general incompetence, and the first independent Appeals Board was established. Martins actions gained broad approval from leading drivers Schrader, Coulson and Warwick but it didn't last long after claims of undue pressure from the committee over his tighter interpretation of the rules. Martin was replaced by former Victorian, the very highly regarded Ray Murrihy, who would go on to establish himself as the gold standard of stewarding across both major codes

Never a dull moment down by the palms in 1978. There were calls from many quarters to establish a Trotting Control Board, independent of the WATA influence that many alleged was pandering to vested interests but it never happened for another two decades and we ended up with a multicode Quango that some would consider has been of debatable benefit.

YouNevaGiveMeYaMoney · October 2025

This is a fantastic thread Jay Jay and other contributors. I have drifted over here from the East (and Harnesslink forum) and I think I will hang about :)

JayJay · October 2025

Cheers and welcome. Each post takes a bit of putting together and fact checking, so the regularity is a bit, well, irregular, but gratifying to know some at least are gaining enjoyment from a walk down memory lane.

Sometimes, it is a treacherous path to walk on here as some local reactors would have you stoned to death for raising the past.

JayJay · October 2025

Coming up next.....the lead up races to, and including the 1966 WA Cup......which was actually run on a Monday, January 2nd, 1967. Over the years because the Cup was run on or around New Years Eve, depending upon what day it fell on, there has been some date confusion.....but even though run in 1967, this is most definitely the 1966 Cup. Running it on Sunday January 1st was a no no back in the day, nothing was open...or allowed to be open.

No interstate runners contested the Cup, they were keeping their powder dry for the 1967 Interdominion Championships in February. In fact, Binshaw was ineligible for the 2.13 and better WA Cup, he was still working through the classes winning a heat and Final of the Christmas Gift for 2.20 and better horses. Remarkably, at this time, he was just a "bit player" to some crackerjack Cup contestants.

JayJay · October 2025

1966 WA Trotting Cup

There is little doubt that this was a great era, if not the best, for the "sport of light harness", as it was referred to in the daily press. Capacity crowds, saturation coverage from the media (The West employed 7 racing writers in addition to track watchers and guest columnists) and with fantastic nominations for the upcoming Interdominion Series in February 1967, interest was at an all time high.

A Grand Final Purse of $30,000 with heats worth $2,500 had attracted a stellar list of nominations from across the Dominion......Bon Adios (S.A), Cambist (Vic), Dale's Gift (Vic), Edict (Vic), First Lee (NSW), Goulburn View (Vic), Halwes (Tas), John Craig (NSW), Medea's Command (NSW), Minuteman (SA), Ringo (NSW), Robin Dundee (NZ), Southern Song (NZ), Tongue Twister (NSW) and Waitaki Hanover (NZ) .....15 of the best including past title holders and acclaimed champions meaning that there were limited spots available for a hugely talented posse of local fast class stars. With handicaps in place that had Robin Dundee off 36 yards, Halwes off 24 yards and Tongue Twister of 12 yards, many of the locals fancied their chances but they first had to impress the stewards selection panel.

In order to stake a claim for a place in the final 36 horses chosen, there was the January 2nd $10,000 WA Cup and lead ups to it that would convince the selection panel that they were worthy of inclusion. This was an era of Coulson domination and leading into the Cup, he lead the drivers list with 25 wins over nearest rivals Bob Pollock and Jim Schrader on 12, and the trainers list with 25 wins over Les Poyser on 10.

First lead up race was the December 3rd, 1966 WA State Sprint Championship over one mile from a "moving start" (no mobile barrier, just a 24 yard walk up), and Blue Seal made it 3 wins in succession in taking the win for Coulson, from Tiara Court (Ray Sweetman) with Lord Mina, last years Cup winner, a nice run in 5th, not being suited by the sprint journey. The official time for the grey was 2.3.25 seconds for the mile.

On December 10th, Blue Pennant won his heat of the Christmas Handicap for 2.17 and better horses, easily beating Velocipede (24 yards). As an aside, on the same night down in Bridgetown, both Stitchintime and Doubtful John broke their maiden status for George Ashcroft, marking the beginnings of illustrious careers.

The December 17 meeting had some future stars on show. Both Officers Attack and horse of the year leader Tiw won Christmas Handicap heats for Coulson but in the Christmas Gift for 2.20 and better horses, there was a fairly unheralded bay horse with 4 white socks called Binshaw who won his heat in a canter, as did Les Poysers future star Volutis.

However the news of the night was the important and vital Cup lead up, the Invitation Stakes for 2.13 and better horses, featuring just about all of the major contenders. Kolworth had been a star of WA racing for seemingly forever. After all, he was a heat winner at the 1962 Inters won by James Scott as a 6 year old, there were few races the now 11 year old had not won on the calendar amongst his 29 city wins, and earlier in the year in April, he reminded the public of his quality with a fantastic win in the 1966 Easter Cup over 2 miles for trainer Mick Taylor and driver Laurie Robinson.

Kolworth, driven by his trainer Mick Taylor, won the Invitation Stakes by a mere 3 inches over the great mare Color Glo driven by Robinson, after Coulson stuck with Blue Seal, with the Sprint Star fading back to 8th. He would not progress to the Cup over 2 miles.

However, the real "news' was the tote dividend. The ageing champ had one last fling in him and he paid an astonishing $178.95 and $12.50 for the place. Very few on course patrons would have been on him but he returned to weigh in to a huge reception.It was sadly to be his last win but what a way to go out.

December 23rd saw another lead up race, a 2.13 and better FFA. Color Glo, with Coulson back in the cart, "snorted" her way around the field (you could hear her all over the course, it was a characteristic of her) to beat another ageing champ in Fred Kersley's King Capri, with Minton Hall ensuring yet another Cup start for trainer driver Jack Jones. Minton Hall would be lining up for his 3rd try albeit off a difficult 24 yard handicap having started favourite when finishing 4th to Hycraft, Mercedes and Pacing Lawn in the 1964 Cup.

December 26th saw Blue Pennant waltz home in the Christmas Handicap Final for Lyle Lindau, again beating Velocipede,and on December 27th, Lord Mina confirmed his status in winning a 2.14 FFA for Coulson at Richmond Raceway. There was no shortage of racing but every night was in front of a packed house and on December 30th, in a portent of what was to come in February, Binshaw annihilated a very smart field in the Christmas Handicap Final whilst Coulson finished the night off with a win on Peter Patrick for the Stampalias in a 2.16 and better handicap off 12 yards.

All was set now for "Cup Night on January 2nd. 2 miles, 14 runners, great horses...Bin Oro, Satanas, Rising Scott, Pythagoras, Cranwell Jack, Tiara Court, Minton Hall.....and the Coulson pairing of Color Glo and Lord Mina. Sadly, Kolworth galloped out hopelessly at the start and did not finish, perhaps he was telling us something. The great mare Color Glo prevailed narrowly for Coulson by a neck with good friend and able lieutenant Robinson bringing Lord Mina home in 2nd to provide the quinella for the stable. It was a triumph for the states best trainer, 3 years in a row he had trained the winner of the Cup , Hy Craft in 1964 with Robinson in the cart as he was obliged by the stewards to drive Pacing Lawn (who finished 3rd), Lord Mina in 1965 and now Color Glo in 1966.

When Velocipede beat Officers Attack and Coneeda in the New Year Handicap on January 7th, all 3 were confirmed as starters in the Inters Series, lead up form had indeed played a big part in forming the WA Contingent who would take on the visitors but that is a story which may be best saved for another night. Hope there were a few names mentioned here that may light up a few memories for some.

JayJay · October 2025

Spotted an error...."Binshaw annihilated a very smart field in the Christmas GIFT final"....which advanced him to a 2.18 mark and thus eligible to nominate for the Interdominion Series which had a 2.18 handicap eligibility clause attached to it. Prior to this, Binshaw was not even quoted in early markets. Some lucrative odds were put up ...... and snapped up...... The starting pistol had been fired.

JayJay · October 2025

Happy Man

J.P Stratton bought the well performed but aged NZ horse Happy Man
(by Man O' War) to WA in 1948. Said to be 16 at the time, he was in fact
only 14. He had won major races in NZ (Ashburton Cup, Methven Cup etc)
and had already won $16,547 in stakes before landing in Perth, a huge
amount by the standard of the day.

Like many
Stratton horses, he was placed in the care of top trainer Athol
Robertson, who would later handle the great Dillon Gratton for
Stratton.There was a considerable stir in local circles when Happy Man
was allocated a very favourable handicap mark at his initial winning
outing in a Free For All in November 1948, not surprising given the
immense influence the committee held over the stewards (basically the
capacity to hire and fire at will).

Heavily
supported, the punters had a new pin up boy as he dominated fast class
races and Free For Alls for several seasons. No matter how short the
odds, he was godsend to punters looking for a certain return in the
desperate post war years when a quid was a quid.

Ironically,
Happy Man won a Stratton Cup, as well as a Fremantle Cup from 24 yards,
a New Year Handicap and he ran 3rd to the great Bintravis from 36
yards in the 1949 WA Cup.

All up, he won 17
metropolitan races, 15 at Gloucester Park and 2 at Richmond Raceway and
in his last year of racing won 3 Free For All in 1952, aged 17. At the
time, there were a number of "rejuvenation procedures" for old geldings
that were not in breach of the rules or could not be tested for. It was
said he may have been the beneficiary of such assistance but regardless,
at 17 years of age, it took Pop Johnson's emerging star Royal Shadow to
knock the old boy off his pedestal.

I hasten
to add I never saw him, before my time but he was talked about in
hallowed tones when I was growing up around the stables as a kid. A
genuine household name was Happy Man. Sadly, his name was never
preserved and the are "Happy Mans" littered through the record books
across multiple eras in multiple countries.

bookielover · October 2025

I have just read this thread. Great stuff JJ. I love the history of racing. We have recently moved and I found a long lost Melbourne Cup race book from 1951. Over 400 bookies on course. There used to be 150 bookies at the trots at the show grounds and the same at the dogs. Most people want to know what the future will look like and if they were in a Time Machine would want to go hundreds of years into the future. I'd rather go back to 1950 and live through the next 40 glory years of punting and bookmaking.

JayJay · October 2025

Good on you BL, this doesn't get said to be offensive or to put down anyone but the current bunch of participants would have absolutely no idea, zero, zilch, not a clue about how wonderful it was in those days. And I am sad for them, they really missed out....and that is a fact.

And I think I even missed the boat a bit....I couldn't imagine what it was like post war, my times start in the 1960's when we couldn't wait, and I'm talking literally here, we couldn't wait for the weekend trots and gallops, get the good clobber out, always a tie and jacket, meet up with piles of friends, off we would go, the racecourses immaculately presented, bustling along, jammed in like sardines, so much energy and vibe in the bookies ring, scallywags galore....it was unreal. And it was like that in the 70's and 80's, even into the 90's before the rot set in.

I went to GP yesterday......and not having a go, it is the way things are .....but you drive past the perimeter wall falling over, being propped up by scaffolding blocking the footpath, as it has been for years. Everything inside is old, broken, rusted, dated,the stalls present terribly, the birdcage fence rusting and propped up with star pickets, the roses (and I didn't think you could kill roses but they can) are dead, 12 specimens in front of the start finish line just sitting in the beds, not a sign of a green shoot, the old stature of San Simeon surround by dead plants and stink weed and in need of a pressure clean, birdcage rose garden the same,absolutely no one there, never mind not a bookie in sight, hardly a tote window open and automated at that, no numbered horse parade, they just wander out like browns cows for their preliminary and I could go on.

Now, I know they haven't got any dough, GP would be very expensive to run, I hear it that everyone bets on their phones from their couches, I hear all that.....but then I see what can happen at the Everest and at the Caulfield Cup and at Ascot to a lesser extend where presentation is still spot on. Even the outer country tracks (the "Sunday" tracks ) present miles better, by the length of the straight, than headquarters.....and I think what has happened?

I was only there because (a) I was in Perth dealing with other matters and (b) I had one racing or else I most certainly wouldn't have bothered. Back then, we went religiously whether we had one in or not...we stayed to the last and probably a bit worse for wear, made arrangements to head to Northam or Bunbury or Cunderdin for the next Wednesday Night meeting. Far more "entertainment" options these days, staring at an electronic screen all day and night obviously tremendously popular, I know, but I think we were lucky as blazes to be in the middle of a great time in life.

Markovina · October 2025

As Larry Olsen the queenslander who won a Melb Cup , said when he gave it away

It was a Canterbury midweek meeting , he had 1 or 2 rides . no one was their , and he said to himself , what in hell am i doing here , and he retired the next day

Ican remember when i was 9 or 10 1st time i stepped foot on a trotting track , and i can still remember it , i thought it was paradise - the excitement - the big crowds , the horses , the bookmakers , the cash the whole lot

I can remember one Xmas time down in Vic on holidays and im pretty sure they use to run their time honoured AG Hunter Cup at this time , this would be late 60s - early 70s , Royal Gaze was a gun pacer at the time and favourite , and the relations knew the connections of a roughie in the race called Chamfer Star , and i can remember i couldnt wait till 4 oclock arrived , because the afternoon edition of the Herald newspaper on a Sat would be delivered to country towns , and it would have all the form and comments about each horse engaged in the Melb Showgrounds that night

Today it is just a borefest and i feel sorry for the participants , as Geoff Webster has said , back in the day the leading drivers were treated ( by the public ) like the football stars - thats how high profile they were

savethegame · October 2025

Markovina said:
As Larry Olsen the queenslander who won a Melb Cup , said when he gave it away

It was a Canterbury midweek meeting , he had 1 or 2 rides . no one was their , and he said to himself , what in hell am i doing here , and he retired the next day

Ican remember when i was 9 or 10 1st time i stepped foot on a trotting track , and i can still remember

What a jockey Larry Olsen gave away riding early in his career for three years. then came back to ride Kensei weighed 80kg, got down to 51.5kg to ride it. best two to listen with there tips was him and Alan Thomas plus the banter..

So right Marko what you can remember from the track younger then ten, Radiant Oro, Daintys Daughter, little snippets like Don Harper talking that Galbria would win a double, Old Joe Suvaljko declaring Gracetonian them nontabs max 20/1.it winning having two dollars on it. those non tab bookies would let you bet.

Think was betting for couple years tried my luck at the round city bookies, Went up to back horse called Beau Decca ----The BOOKIE Yelled out your way to young to bet he got the immediate crowds attention said i will let you have this bet but you promise you will never bet again if it gets beat which i didn't agree too. don't think it won .Think it was good horse later. Jay Jay would know D.Richards was driver?

JayJay · October 2025

Yes STG, good filly/mare Beau Decca, on of Stratton's/Mrs Pitsonis old breed by Jidaluk. Big family that produced Imalulu, Karen Sue...heaps of winners.

Good young horse, group 1 winner in the Oaks in 1972 (Lou Austin drove) and 3rd in the Sires Produce Stakes to Local Product.

But raced on, won 11 in town, 7 at GOP and 4 at Richmond with Dennis doing the later driving.

Was trained by Mike Fitzgerald and owned by Mike and Barry Matkovich, a bookie, probably fielding up at the round when he knocked back your bet.

JayJay · October 2025

By the way, you were right, it didn't win in Kalgoorlie. Two starts at the 1972 round, September 5th ran 3rd to Star Kyle and buttered up on Sept 8th when 3rd (off 24 yards) to Grand Patton in the Allen and Brimage Cup. I suspect Frank had a shilling or two on Grand Patton as it started favourite, also off24 yards.

Earlier than that, I was apprentice manure collector for a couple of Allen and Brimage Cup winners at Mr Boot's stable as a very young kid...Gallant Gem and Edward Adios, who took great delight in biting me...... and anyone else that got close.

Around the time that Grand Patton won in 1972 for Frank Harrold and Phil Bonser, Jim Schrader almost had a mortgage on the A&B Cup with Nightland, Park Royale and Big Venture (owned by Alf and Ken Hampton)

savethegame · October 2025

The greatest spray in my time at the round was when number one punter for G.Hall & associate received from bookie Matkovich there wasn't one form of cancer that existed that he didn't wish on them when horse called Maybe Rich won.

Do remember Park royale he was a roan. Rod James had very showy horse Kincade not thinking it won at a round but went to Jim Schrader sure it finished up in America couldn't get around G.M. 650m. track back then..

JayJay · October 2025

Ummm, first thought on Maybe Rich was it was much later than Beau Decca and Greg Miles is the what pops into my head? But I'll look it up tomorrow. Again, first thought was she ( I think a mare) wasn't that good but her brother/half brother was a very good horse for Brian Olsen and Coulson, Berkely Road. Maybe Mrs Richardson owned or bred? Will also check on Kincade, a familiar name but that's all. I think I will have stuff on both of them.

savethegame · October 2025

She won at race rounds 92 two wins 93 one win Greg Miles drove it but can't.remember which round Mr Matkovich wasnt happy with the training arrangements but still can picture the abuse.

Arapaho · October 2025

Gary Hall snr had Berkely Road for a stint too had a horse with him around the same time.

JayJay · October 2025

Full brother and sister Maybe Rich and Berkely Road by Booth Hanover from a Lordship mare (Moonship) bought in from NZ by Annear but these two bred by Mrs Richardson.

Hall snr won a lot of races with Berkely Road, I think he must have broken down or something but I don't keep full records of his winners.

I have every Coulson trained and/or driven winner from the start (Tiny Tax, P. Coulson driver, Norm Duncan trained, June 14th,1951at RR through to Deutschendorf S.J. Miller driven, P.Coulson trained, August 11th, 2003 at GP) to finish.

He won 3 on Berkley Road for Brian Olsen when he was on a pretty tight mark M4/M5. June 18 1993, July 2nd 1993, with Village Kid 2nd on both occasions (he was at the end of the road) and on August 13, 1993.

I believe Barry Matkovich is still with us. He had a short and quite corrosive fuse on occasions.

JayJay · October 2025

Not much on Kincade, slowish horse by Paleface Adios, best MR 2.4.4, shows just 3 wins from 52 attempts, all on outer Victorian tracks but his time coincided with the switch to computerised records, so may not be spot on. No record of him racing in WA or in the USA.

Arapaho · October 2025

JayJay said:
Full brother and sister Maybe Rich and Berkely Road by Booth Hanover from a Lordship mare (Moonship) bought in from NZ by Annear but these two bred by Mrs Richardson.

Hall snr won a lot of races with Berkely Road, I think he must have broken down or something but I don't keep full records of his winners.

I have every Coulson trained and/or driven winner from the start (Tiny Tax, P. Coulson driver, Norm Duncan trained, June 14th,1951at RR through to Deutschendorf S.J. Miller driven, P.Coulson trained, August 11th, 2003 at GP) to finish.

He won 3 on Berkley Road for Brian Olsen when he was on a pretty tight mark M4/M5. June 18 1993, July 2nd 1993, with Village Kid 2nd on both occasions (he was at the end of the road) and on August 13, 1993.

I believe Barry Matkovich is still with us. He had a short and quite corrosive fuse on occasions.

Arapaho · October 2025

For memory think Berkley Road died of colic or something as a reasonably young horse

savethegame · October 2025

Rang Rod confident Kincade wasn't by
Paleface Adios. He told me he was by Aachen can't remember when he had him,Schrader took him they had him sold to America broke his pedal bone at Richmond Raceway at his last start and never ended up going. He said high speed horse with issues.

JayJay · October 2025

You send me down needless rabbit holes when the names aren't spelt correctly. The Aachen horse is Kin Kade.....two separate words....and no "c". Foaled 1970. Kincade was by Paleface Adios.

savethegame · October 2025

Thought you may have remembered him Showy horse more like Weebo with Jim Schrader, no rabbit holes intended I get alot enquiries regarding trainers with you know the good horse he had ?
Only seen that horse once.Like seen picture in the paper of horse Schrader paid 100k in the picture it had a piece of pvc pipe between its back legs in Endeavour to help pace Rollicking Dean?

G'day Punter!

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