Ray GranthamHarness & Greyhounds

JayJay

Saddened to hear of the passing (on Sunday I believe) of a very significant figure in Ray Grantham. Outstanding trainer,, highly rated driver, owner, breeder and a pillar of Pinjarra. Old timers will well remember Gallant Ribbon, Bangalore, Windy Jean, King Carramar, Shanagar, Village Hero and the blue and pink spots. Drove for Frank Gilbert (Garry John) and Irwin Eakin (Shanagar) and a very astute operator. No doubt Alan Parker will produce a detailed account of his career. Another of the old pillars falls, Don't know his age but must be well over 80 and highly respected.Noticed he is listed as the breeder of recent Jocelyn Young winner Warriors Legacy.

maybeso

Vale Ray Grantham

09 November 2020 | Alan Parker

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=45688

VillageKid

Gee that is sad news.

RJG always had a handy pacer or 2 when I started following the trots in the 1980s one of his pacers that hasnt been mentioned yet that I can remember as a young bloke was Smokey Future who was a handy free for all pacer.

Had the very nice blue and pink spot colours that always stood out in a race.

R.I.P Ray

JayJay

Old Smokey, he raced forever ....and ever...Boof had him for ages after Ray had him, then Colin Olsen, Brent Scott......he was by Louis. Ray was a good horse breaker/educator as well....tamed a few nasty beasts in his early days. He also featured in some of the most terrible race smashes ever seen, one famous one at Fremantle when George Grljusich interrupted his race call to summons the Ambulance onto the track.....with 3 laps to go .....with the filed negotiating the Ambulance at the winning post each time they came around. He was badly smashed up but bounced back. I love the bit about Bangalore winning that special Princess Margaret race...I was there that night, had a good win after a brilliant drive .......but I recall mostly the huge beaming smile as he got the trophy. I wasn't surprised to read that Alan says it was his proudest moment in the sport. Top man Ray Grantham.

Markovina

That is sad news 

I can remember a few things of note 

Listened to a radio interview in my car - nearly 40 years ago - but i can remember it - they had Greg Harper on - and Classic Garry had done very well - might have won 3-4 for him at that stage - so it was early days - but he said when they bought the horse - Grantham said to him the sky is the  limit with  this horse  - and Greg said to the interviewer - yeah sure Ray - but he was proved correct 

Another thing - i allways wondered with that pacer Raymon John  ( no D on the Raymond though ) - i liked that horse - striking sort of  a horse - i allways wondered whether they named that horse after him - because there was a Grantham in the ownership - might have even been him the owner 

When he switched to the gallops - and at the time - i had some interest -  ( where as today the gallops are like the cricket - ive got no interest at all ) - i actually sort of followed him - hoping he would have alot of success because i liked him - but my honest assessment of that - i just dont think  it clicked - he  probably won  good races - but i thought he would dominate a bit more and do better . I really think he went to the gallops to prove a point - where as his heart was still in harness racing

savethegame

Marko - Sure Ray sweetman sold classic garry--  Ray Sweetman went to gallops had a decent one. wrong Ray.

Markovina

savethegame said:

Marko - Sure Ray sweetman sold classic garry--  Ray Sweetman went to gallops had a decent one. wrong Ray.

Thanks - ive mixed them up - sorry 

JayJay

Beat me to it STG.....wrong Ray. Ray Sweetman had those Alert horses when he switched to gallops.....was it Fair Alert or Just Alert or maybe both, amongst others.....Mr Zemindar? I think daughter Lyn Bauskis trained Classic Garry for a while as a 4YO (Ray had a blue with the stewards and handed in his license) before he went over to Greg Harper. Fantastic horse, better than his brother Special Garry and now an extremely influential brood mare sire.

savethegame

Fair Alert was the one-- was very good horse

savethegame

Scotlyn  Ray was one  the daughter  also trained----Ray Sweetman lost his best ever horse to septicemia, as told to me.

 Back on to Ray Grantham his stats don't really tell the true story with a lot less metro meetings and probably another 300+ plus trainers at wild guess---to compete with mostly-- stands and field sizes 12 or more--- adding to obstacles. he was up against. R.I.P.

Betonme

I think im recalling correct, but when they bought Lady Legacy at the yearling sales, it was a record for a filly at the time. A number of his latest bred ones like Gardys Legacy/Warriors Legacy go back to this line.