G'day Punter!

Sign In Register

In this Discussion

Who's Online

0 Members & 110 Non Members

Who Am I - The unassuming champ edition.

Harness & Greyhounds
Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
edited January 2017 Harness & Greyhounds
My career began in Tasmania. By the time it had ended I had been victorious in every state in Australia and New Zealand and had earned over two million dollars during my time in racing. I won both the Auckland Cup and two New Zealand Trotting Cups. I wasn't blessed with natural speed or a turn of foot I often had to work or sit parked outside the leader.

My father Echelon was a prolific winner and I can be traced back to the famous Meadow Skipper. My mum was unraced. I won my first race in Tasmania at two and I won the Hobart Free For All twice plus a Devonport Cup by the end of my five year old campaign. Then I was purchased for new owners in Queensland and I won a Queensland Winter Cup at Albion Park and also was successful in a big sprint race at Harold Park. The following year I won the Ballarat Cup and second in the South Australia Cup. I also won two heats of the Interdominion Championship in Tasmania. Then back to win the NZ Cup a second time in record time over the 3200 metres. I also took out the Auckland Cup and was second in the Tooheys Mile to Hexus.

Despite being trained in Australia most of my career my greatest achievements came in staying races in NZ where I won those NZ Cup races as a 9 and 10 year old. I won NZ Horse of The Year and Australasian Grand Circuit Titles. Some say I didn't get the media recognition in Australia that I deserved but I'm pretty happy I went to stud in NZ and was inducted into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall Of Fame then six years later inducted into the Tasmanian Harness Racing Hall Of Fame.
+1 -1

Comments

  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    Was it Flashing Red Riders?
    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    edited January 2017
    Yes the amazing Flashing Red and not sure which one it was now but he won one of those NZ Trotting Cups at about 25/1. Use to watch him in Tasmania and think this horse is pretty damm good. To say he went from strength to strength is an understatement.
    +1 -1
  • ciscocisco    824 posts
    edited January 2017
    Great work Riders - I think it is fantastic to reminisce about past champions!! =D>

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    Guess the next question is how many pacers have won in every state of Australia ? Cue JJ. To win the two NZ Cups over two miles in very strong fields plus to be successful in the Cordina Sprint at Harold Park over one mile and win in every state of Australia spells - champion.
    +1 -1
  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    Pure Steel might have won a race in every state?

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    Smoken Up ? No don't think so. Blacks A Fake ? Beautide ? All no I think. Not 100% sure on Pure Steel or any of those champs. Winning in all states plus NZ makes you realise just how good 'Red' was.
    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Riders; the horse to my eye that never gets a lot recognition; Westburn grant he won in every state of Australia plus n.z ,even a.c.t. Tasmania...........,Voted n.z. three old of the year,at the same time voted Australia three year  old of the year+plus pacer of the year 1989.....part of his career he raced with four screws in his pastern what a horse.

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • sonnysonny    1,552 posts
    Young Mister Charles won in every state except Tassie and won a heat of the Inters in N.Z. A very under rated horse...

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    edited January 2017
    When Westburn Grant won the 1992 Pacing Cup it was the biggest drifter have seen in a major race to this day. By jump time was 12/1 ( $13 today ). Bookmakers even placed a banner in the ring the following week mocking themselves for betting 12/1 and encouraging punters to bet...sort of saying we were that silly to bet 12/1 a champion in Westburn Grant that you can get set with us! Was a strong ring too.

    Chariotsonfire, savethegame, Offthebit likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    RIDERS; The bookies believed that  they had just played santa....But the cold hard facts leading into that was he had been out for ten months recovering from a fractured pastern,which was re-aligned by dr.john yovich,held together by four screws..,Hoping spot could just enjoy a happy existence, at the time was the main priority.....He had just won our 91 pacing cup by 20 metres....He then returned to the track oct. with a win at Newcastle in  t/record time.then had one won race in his next 6 starts the a.p.c. in tasmania third in a very weak m/mile behind chris.vance...... There was a mindset had he come back below par, was g.p to tight to negotiate with re -leg      ...Plus two days before Christmas vic frost lost his son in a tragic acc and went home,so his other son glen flew in to drive him on the 27dec finished 6th to zarkara last half in 60.9. seven days before pacing cup,...Winning a pacing cup wasn't vics total focus at that sadtime for the family....So the old bookies&me included thought it was a bridge to far but as things happen bingo. bookies looking through  eye brows  only offering 12s.
    +1 -1
  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    If I remember rightly the charge was led by Greg Oneill uncle of Greyhound Caller Peter Oneill and many other bookmakers followed.

    Even accounting for your explanation Savethegame it will still go down as one of the biggest overs bet in a feature race in Australia.
    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Humour aspect...Vincent John Knight. re 91 pacing cup; Vin knight was known for playing with other drivers minds leading up to big races,ringing them up let them no how good his horse was plus through the media...Then after Sinbad bay had beaten Westburn  grant in a prelude of the pacing cup,vinnie started  to really ramp it up. ...Saying didn't care what gate they drew,Be windburnt  grant&vic melt, when he went pass them.....Come the draw w/grant drew 1......Vic frost thought vin would come at him from the get go,so he was ready, but he went back instead,and a move  later the last mile was run in 1.54...vin gave vic the time to melt one,..but icariin had punctured w/grant tyre in the last lap as  well , westburn grant won by twenty metres.....vin knight would have need about 4pkts fishermans friends,after that race to get vocals going again.... Did like what vin knight brought to the industry. 

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    edited January 2017
    Told this one before Stg but one night at GP it was a big race and Vin Knight was in front on the favourite but let Chris Lewis out of a pocket...straight past him...it was a young Chris Lewis too at the peak of his prowess...was in the bird cage after the race and Vin kicked some of the gear as hard as possibly could be. It flew from one end of the stabling area to the other end. To say he was fuming was an understatement. What a driver and character he was. You could say with his driving he didn't die wondering..it was only us who were left to wonder how it would have all worked out for him if he had stayed around.

    savethegame, Offthebit likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    RIDERS; was 1988 Winfield cup vin had won it with bag limit and the crowd started to boo ,he was upset thinking they were booing his horse, so at the presentation   he told them along these lines did you all have your heads stuck  up  your ...... last week,this horse trys his guts out wk in wk out....Heard he played mind games with lou Austin  after kotare knight had won two heats, prior to san simeon winning final in tas.....Knights number  of  grand circuit horses 85-91 ? power house out fit.....purdon is at that level now&better?

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    Think was only 36 years old when he departed. Was in his prime. Life goes on.

    savethegame likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    Ridersonthestorm33 said:

    Think was only 36 years old when he departed. Was in his prime. Life goes on.

    I remember being in disbelief when I heard that news and even some 25 years later still cant believe it as VJK seemed to have the world at his feet but obviously despite all the outward confidence and bravado he had some personal issues at the time.

    savethegame likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,942 posts
    Yes for sure VK...he would have been 61 now.

    VillageKid likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    riders&vk...Sure made a lasting impression for old diehard followers of harness racing in aus......A video tribute called.....VIN.A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER.....Was written and narrated by award winning  Peter Donegan.....VJK. he was the x-factor..

    Ridersonthestorm33, VillageKid likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Vin Knight; 87-88, talk about a season he had 367 drives 154wins+66seconds+39thirds...a winner every 2.38 drives, and in the money every  1.41....

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • buffybuffy    277 posts
    I was there the night that Westburn Grant won and it was Greg Oniell  leading the charge with price. Said it couldnt win and couldnt get enough money out of it. But my recollection is that it got to 8/1 only but many followed him. He managed to do his ring on it and didnt last long at the game. Former bookie Jack Naglan was clerking for Greg that night and may have suggested that WG couldnt win.

    curmudgeon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • OffthebitOffthebit    617 posts
    edited February 2017
    buffy said:

    I was there the night that Westburn Grant won and it was Greg Oniell  leading the charge with price. Said it couldnt win and couldnt get enough money out of it. But my recollection is that it got to 8/1 only but many followed him. He managed to do his ring on it and didnt last long at the game. Former bookie Jack Naglan was clerking for Greg that night and may have suggested that WG couldnt win.



    No doubt in the world that westburn grant got out to 12/1 that night. I remember standing in the ring staring at the 12/1 and thinking, geez that's a big price for such a champion horse, before heading over to the tote and backing zakara
    8-}

    Its hard to believe that was 25 years ago.....I remember it like it was only yesterday.

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Definitely 12/1 was bet and that prompted the Bookies to put a banner in the ring for the next month or so which said something like "And we bet 12/1".

    Offthebit, Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • MatildaBayMatildaBay    6 posts
    savethegame said:

    riders&vk...Sure made a lasting impression for old diehard followers of harness racing in aus......A video tribute called.....VIN.A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER.....Was written and narrated by award winning  Peter Donegan.....VJK. he was the x-factor..




    Do you know where I could find a copy of the VK tribute video? Checked out YouTube but no luck.
    Thanks.
    +1 -1
  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts




    MatildaBay, Ridersonthestorm33, savethegame likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Matilda bay on e-bay notice for sale?.......matilda bay the galloper raced at norseman  fortnight later appeared at moonee valley.....Was trained by one tough prospector kevin boase, put his wake on a couple wks before he passed, he was battling the dreaded  c  no one was going to drink his free grog without him was his story...

    curmudgeon likes this post.

    +1 -1
Sign In or Register to comment.