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Fred Godecke
Harness & Greyhounds
JayJay
7,629 posts
With the passing of 96 year old Fred Godecke this week, the last direct link to the first Interdominion Championship in 1936 has been broken. Fred trained and drove Willowcliffe who won a heat and qualified for the final. Of course, the extended Godecke family is synonymous with WA Harness Racing through the deeds of many top horses including the great Renaud, Golta, Fastease and company and they bred many top horses. Fred had very good horses such as Cornish Rogue, Caltrop, Banca and the stunning but injury prone Red Monaro who could have been anything.
+1 -1
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I think they are finally being paid decent remuneration - i can remember it was only a couple of years ago that Lance Justice - who was the driving force behind got - enabled the Vic drivers to get Superannuation on top of their driving fees - and i mean why shouldnt they get it - every other - worker - even casuals get it
Everyone has bagged drivers over the years - but i have said it once before - it takes guts to get out there - the risk in any race - look at David Harding and his wife
If i was the president of any state driving association - i would be pressing to get as much as you could get for your drivers within reason
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And Gavins precise words were - that over the years no one has made much money out of trotting - however he said where alot of participants - particularly the older crew had been defacto compensated for that - is they normally had a bit of land - previously rural - but now with urban sprawl had been rezoned as residential - and in Gavs words had got their 1-2 million through their land . Thats something younger participants today are definetly not going to have the luxury of
Best example is FRK - talk about lucky - with his property - it was way down the track -as in sold - nearly exchanged contracts - what was the figure 550k
I had to laugh at the time Gino DM was still at the West - and Gino said - Fred has been " forced out " of his property - i would love to be " forced out " for $9-10 million when i just about had accepted 550k
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