Doncaster Handicap 1974
With the running of the 2019 Doncaster Handicap a few shortening days away this is timely? It might have been the most sensational Doncaster Handicap ever run; and not for all the right reasons!
Featured Image: The unofficial close photo finish of the Doncaster Handicap in 1974 captured by renowned race photographer Ron Bickley (C J Bickley & Sons, Rozelle); who may have been forewarned? It could have been a setup; as most such bold and brassy aberrations are. The banal bar room verdict recorded that the colt won ‘by a good length’? Sorry! The identity of the daring participants is unknown.
This created a sensation at the time when ‘streaking’ was all the rage. Shortly after this photograph was taken Showdown gelding ‘Tontonan’ was the first (equine) past the post and declared the official winner. Roy Higgins was astride ‘Tontonan’ who won from ‘Toltrice’ and ‘Coolalinga’ by one and half lengths in a weight carrying record for a 3 year old (56 kg) on a soft track.
Can you believe I was there that day close to the winning post and entirely oblivious to the drama taking place? I was watching the horses! Certainly an inchoate ‘buzz’ was discernible in the crowd but it went largely unnoticed by the majority.