Fred HoughHarness & Greyhounds

JayJay

Very sad news that Fred Hough passed away aged 86, another of the truly great drivers of the past. I did cover Fred in the Top 50 thread some time ago (January 2015) and some of the top horses he was associated with.....the incomparable Frosty Nelson, the ageless Blue Pennant and the truly brilliant Red Vicar......along with some amusing asides. No laying out the back of the cart with flailing reins from Fred, always crouched low and fully reined up. He was a cold and astute money driver and a master horseman. His daughter was married to the late Ross Keys, and along with his Dad Arthur, formed one of the foundations families of WA Trotting.
On a further sad note, Vera Johnson, a wonderful person in her own right, joined her much loved husband Max after also passing last week. The pillars of the past continue to inevitably crumble.

Chariotsonfire

Fred was a very astute old style horseman. Did not mind giving one a run if the price was not to his liking.

Was it his daughter who was Northerly's strapper?

JayJay

Yes, Sheree was Northerly's minder. And yes, Fred was very "astute" but when the cash was on, few better money drivers.

VillageKid

Sad news JJ I can remember Fred having a bit of success in the cart very late in his career with the handy Fast Creed.

Ridersonthestorm33

Remember scouring the form out of the 'Daily News' and 'West Australian' and seeing the names of Hough, Marriott, Pollock, Froyland, Woodworth, Poyser, Fred & Bill Kersley, Schrader, Batt , Coulson, the Godeckes and Sangallis , Starkie , Grantham , Lilleyman and many more. First early memories of pacing in WA . Time goes too fast.

JayJay

Alan Parker has done an obituary on Fred Hough. The link is:

http://www.harness.org.au/news-article.cfm?news_id=31373

VillageKid

Great stuff JJ & to Alan Parker.

R.I.P Fred.

On another note JJ do you know where you can source the information that has the list of winners driven over time? I see Fred was 39th on the all time drivers list with 512 winners, it would be great to see the actual list online or elsewhere if it is available?

JayJay

I bet not many knew Fred drove a winner for Geoff Sherrifs?

VK, I believe Alan keeps an up to date list but it is a moving feast isn't it? .... Bloody Chris Lewis, Hall Jnr keep saluting lol.....and the younger drivers moving up all the time with the huge number of race dates now available and the inclusion of "country" races on the Saturday and Tuesday meetings counted as Metro winners. For mine, City winners are Friday Night winners of Metro races....I wouldn't even include those $8500 country penalty  races of whatever that they run on the Friday programmes. Some of the old metro records for past drivers, many now deceased, covered the one metro meeting per week plus Easter etc and included a fortnight at the end/start of the season when neither GP or Richmond raced at all. Driving 50 city winners in those days was a milestone....7 race programmes once a week.

Browny123

Can anyone please tell me how to find out how many winners trainers have had over their careers?.

Markovina

Thats a good point Jay Jay about what counts as " metropolitan winners " - should as you say be only Friday night winners . Some of those Tuesday GP meetings - the fields quality wise are deplorable - especially the last race - where apart from a few exceptions - most of those horses should be put on a truck destined for Broken Hill or West Wyalong - where they  " might " win another race

Fred Hough - i can vaguely remember him - were his race colours basically red - a deep red . Did he have a decent young horse - when - the Battle of Bunbury series was formulated many years ago - thats about all i can remember about him.

JayJay

Yes, all red. But there were quite a few Houghs around the Harvey area, all related to Fred....John Hough, Peter Hough....had a few handy types...Remember backing The Boys Light Up one night on course at Harvey and it won like a good thing. I think Aqua Grande or similar was one of their better ones.