1960/61 SeasonHarness & Greyhounds

JayJay

Trawling through the results and highlights of this season.....a million stories, ranging from an old horse being given away for 2/6 pence to Bernie Cushing as a 13 year old, who then went on to  prepare his second Trotting Cup winner with Defiance on January 2nd, 1961 (Robert Sheen his previous in 1956). And the winner of next years Cup, Beau Travis, was a late scratching at 8.10pm. Suspect some consternation down in the birdcage Picture Son?

Chariots, one horse appearing frequently through the season......Billy Collette for M.Cooper....fast class horse, numerous 2nds from rearward marks, 2nd in a 2.17 and better from 48 yards behind, so a 2.13 assessed horse. 2nd to Kodak in the Australia Day Handicap, 2nd to Shoemaker in the Labour Day Handicap, great record. Family connection I am assuming?

One day, after checking a few things, I will put it together as a hopefully coherent stroll through what was a great era of 15,000 plus crowds on a weekly basis at Brennan Park and Richmond Raceway. On course tote figures are remarkable.  A few snippets...leading metro driver was Alan Woodworth (29) from Max Johnson (27) and Phil Coulson (24.5) ....Coulson dominated but was 'off the scene" for 2 months and Ted Greig (who would perform marvels in rehabilitating the  smashed up champion Cardigan Bay 12 months later) won a bunch of races driving for him on Shalamak. Leading owners were Stan Woodworth (4830 pounds), the3 Dorman Brothers (4755 pounds) and Bob Meotti who owned Shalamak (3755 pounds).

Chariotsonfire

Father JayJay. Close 3rd to Jackie Scott and Taxi Boy in the WA Trotting Cup as it was called then.

Billy Collette bolted with me around a lake in Bayswater when I was learning to drive with Dad in hysterics before he flagged him down.

Very short driving career but I did win a Bookmakers Race at GP on one of my own Pirates Cove.

JayJay

Cheers, I recall John telling me about a "Billy" and I that was the horse.

We have all had a "bolta"......I was heading out of the Orange Grove track one morning bound for Kelvin Road and beyond. Fortunately, D.C. Harper emerged from nowhere and the horse went from full stretch to stopped in about 10 yards and he grabbed the bridle. Bay Gleam...she was crackers. Much amusement from the assembled observers, the Pereiras, Wally Thomas, old Jack etc, no sympathy whatsoever.

Peppercorn seems an unsung hero, he won a heap of races in 1960/61, August Cup, a bunch of FFA's and two runners up in the Trotting Cup...rarely mentioned in dispatches.