Radium II
Acknowledge: Australian Stock Horse Society 40th Anniversary Compendium
See: https://www.ashs.com.au/the-society/about-us/about-us/
Featured Image: Radium II with Glen Wisemantel, in 1937
This sire son of Radium, foaled in 1926, is of considerable importance to the Australian Stock Horse Society. The most successful horse in the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book, ABBEY – FS, is line bred to Radium II.
Radium
Acknowledge: Australian Stock Horse Society 40th Anniversary Compendium
See: https://www.ashs.com.au/the-society/about-us/about-us/
Featured Image: Radium, the great proponent of the Cecil bloodline
When Donald Beaton, an astute horse breeder, decided to breed from his outstanding mare, Black Bess, he chose what he considered the most successful sire of the day, and this of course was Cecil.
Cecil
Acknowledge: Australian Stock Horse Society 40th Anniversary Compendium
See: https://www.ashs.com.au/the-society/about-us/about-us/
Featured Image: The only known photo of Cecil taken in 1903
Cecil was born at ‘Glenayr’, in Glenrock, New South Wales in 1899. Bred by W H “Black Bill” Simpson, Cecil was by Red Gauntlet, who was by Marmion, and out of a Thornthwaite mare.
Australian Stock Horse Society 40th Anniversary Compendium
See: https://www.ashs.com.au/the-society/about-us/about-us/
Featured Image: Mustering on Mount Sanford Station, Katherine NT; Photo Steve Strike
The Australian Stock Horse Society will turn 50 years of age next year (2021). This compendium was produced to celebrate the 40th anniversary. It seems eons ago since the formative years when much ‘distilled wisdom’ was refined in the back bar of the Belmore Hotel in Scone every special sale day congregation of the ‘Tuesday Boozers Club’.
We look forward eagerly to the much awaited 50th celebratory compendium. It’s a given certainty that many of the taproot sires (and other) will be recorded in the Scone ‘Equine Walk of Fame’ along the revitalised main pedestrian thoroughfare on both sides of Kelly Street. This much I can promise.
I have already written about ‘Panzer’ and ‘Rannock’; both bred by my late father-in-law Bob Mackay of ‘Tinagroo’. David Archibald’s ‘Nabinabah the Gun’ was by ‘Panzer’.
Australia’s First Stud Book
Acknowledge: ‘The Australian Stud & Stable’ – August/September 1972 – Page 82
Acknowledge: Michael Ford;
See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/history-of-the-australian-stud-book-parts-i-and-ii/
Featured Image: Front cover of Fowler Boyd Price’s First Stud Book (see above)
English Camerton was a chestnut and not very game stayer. He was a son of Hambletonian, the winner of the 1795 St Leger and 19 other races and matches, including a famous match race against Diamond for 3000 Guineas at Newmarket. Hambletonian was a grandson of Eclipse, and was only beaten once when he bolted and jumped from the course.
This fascinating conundrum about “Old” Camerton occurs in the pedigree notes in this first NSW Stud Book concerning Bay Camerton, bred in England in 1817 and imported to New South Wales in 1824. Through his daughters, notably Camilla (foaled about 1828) his blood still survives in Australia.
Breeders Back Artificial Insemination
Hunter Valley News by Brian Russell (c. 1990)
Featured Image: The ‘miasma’ of equine (thoroughbred) reproduction courtesy of Professor Twink Allen
This headline might have evoked a trenchant response if it had appeared in the major print media of the day? As it was it flew under the radar. The ‘heavyweights’ in the thoroughbred industry have always ignored the opinions of the minions! Immutable imperious legality rules OK; and always has. The anachronistic and archaic ‘rubrics’ as decreed by the major law makers of yesteryear, the English Jockey Club/Stud Book plus the American equivalent(s) laid down the road map. Essentially it hasn’t wavered despite remarkable scientific progress in parentage verification and other technological advancements. Small adjustments have been made such as allowing some latitude in ‘early’ birth dates. Some very courageous breeders such as Bruce McHugh have been brave and bold enough to mount a significant challenge. It’s a very solid ‘brick wall’. It’ seems ludicrous and absurd to be floating mares around the TB Studs of the Upper Hunter (and elsewhere) seeking to cover mares at midnight because of overbooked stallions? Natural mating occurs at dawn and dusk. The overarching premises appear to be avarice and cupidity plus hegemonic control. I rest my case.
Flight
Featured Image: ‘Flight’ courtesy of Australian Turf Club by Ian Forbes McLaren
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_(horse)
Flight (1940–1953) was an Australian Thoroughbred race mare that was the highest stakes winning mare in Australasia. Her courageous efforts made her a crowd favourite during the post-World War II era and she had victories over some of the great horses of the time including Shannon, Bernborough, Royal Gem and Russia.
She was a bay daughter of Royal Step her dam was the unplaced mare, Lambent (NZ) by Tractor (GB). A half-sister to Flight, Sparkle (NZ) by Colonel Cygnus (GB), won the 1940 Dunedin Cup. Flight was inbred to Chelandry and also to St Simon in the fourth and fifth (4×5) generations. She was purchased at the 1942 Sydney yearling sales by Brian Crowley (a future chairman of the AJC) for 60 guineas.
Record:
65starts: 24 wins – 19 seconds – 9 thirds
£31,429 (A$62,858)
Scone ANZAC Day Parade 1937
Featured Image: Taken from ‘The Way We Were’ courtesy of Scone & Upper Hunter Historical Society
This should evoke some memories from among the cognoscenti of a long bygone era? Several enduring luminaries are included in the parade; among them the hero of Beersheba Colonel J R C Davies then a resident of ‘Yarrandi’. I’ve just enjoyed morning coffee (11/03/2020) with Jim Kevan’s son John. Their house is No. 1 Shaw Street; I live at No. 2. Jack Hayne is connected with No. 1 as he was related (son-in-law) to the original builder Mathew Miller. Arthur Shaddock ‘ruled’ the Sports Store when I came to Scone and Johnny Del Degan had succeeded his father Louie in the ultra-successful market garden at the corner of Aberdeen and Liverpool Streets.
Hilton Cope
Having paid tribute to Keith Banks and others such as Wayne Harris and Herbie Eveleigh I thought it was about time I recorded an encomium to my good friend Hilton Cope?
Featured Image: Hilton Cope with Ken Howard at White Park Races, Scone in 1976
Podcast: https://www.johntapp.racing/tappys-podcast/2019/7/9/episode-117-tappy-chats-with-hilton-cope
It might have been an inauspicious beginning? The following is taken directly from Harley Walden’s erudite treatise on Keith Banks:
“One thing that will live in Banks’ memory will be his first ride in a race; it was a sensation, at Warwick Farm in March 1959. Hilton Cope’s stirrup broke in a packed field; Noel McGrowdie’s mount came down over Cope and Golden Grove, piloted by then 16-year-old apprentice Banks, crashed on top of both. Banks was admitted to Liverpool Hospital with a broken thigh and pelvis, broken arm and dislocated shoulder. He was in hospital for six months and out of the saddle for a year”.
Gunsynd AGAIN
Featured Image: ‘Gunsynd’ at White Park Races Scone on Saturday 15th March 1980
Acknowledge: ‘The Scone Advocate’ Wednesday, March 19, 1980
In another earlier ‘blog’ I wrote that Gunsynd’s last racecourse appearance was at the Scone Race Club’s Cup Meeting in May 1973. I was wrong! I should have known better.
We hosted the very popular Aberdeen Slipper Meeting at White Park Racecourse on Saturday 15th March 1980. By this time I was President of Scone Race Club, my good friend Hilton Cope was Vice-President and enthusiastic ‘organiser’ of the Aberdeen Slipper Meeting. The concept was a huge triumph and enduring success. I was actually searching the Scone Advocate Archive at the Scone & Upper Hunter Historical Society when I came across the detailed enthusiastic report on the meeting.
