Racehorse Aftercare at 40th Asian Racing Conference

Racehorse Aftercare at 40th Asian Racing Conference

Featured Image: International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses

See: Eighth International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses will be held as part of 2024 Asian Racing Conference – IFAR (internationalracehorseaftercare.com)

See also: https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/international-racing/racehorse-aftercare-at-40th-asian-racing-conference/803907

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) is an independent forum established to advocate for the lifetime care of retired racehorses, to increase awareness within the international racing community of this important responsibility and to increase awareness in the sport horse world regarding the versatility of the thoroughbred horse.

IFAR provides leadership, support and expert advice on a range of aftercare issues, and facilitates a forum for jurisdictions to relate their experiences and to share best practice.

Promoting equine welfare before, during and after a horse’s racing career is vital in ensuring the public’s confidence in the sport is maintained and is integral to the future health of horseracing 

– Jim Gagliano, The Jockey Club

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Fast Track Applications Open

Fast Track Applications Open

See: https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/racing-industry/fast-track-applications-open/803820

Posted by: Bernard Kenny at 9:31am on 15/2/2024

Posted in: Industry News

Applications are open for the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia flagship ‘Fash Track’ program that sees some 90% of trainees now with thoroughbred careers.

“Walking around the Magic Millions sales a few weeks ago it was great to see so many of our past trainees working for farms,” said Tom Reilly, the TBA Chief Executive.

“A number of those had no horse experience before starting on the program, and those who may not have found their way into the industry otherwise.”

“Fast Track offers anyone with a passion for horses the opportunity to begin a career with thoroughbreds, regardless of their background or level of hands-on experience.”

Now in its seventh year, the program has proved a successful pathway with a great of those trainees continuing to work in the industry after completing the course.

The 12-month course targets people from outside breeding and racing and introducing them to Australia’s thoroughbred sector in providing them with foundational skills.

Developed in response to industry staffing shortages, it acknowledges those who need to build successful careers with a nationally recognised formal qualification.

Open to 18 years and over, the successful applicants have a full-time paid traineeship with a stud farm while studying Certificate III in Horse Breeding, and ideal for a career change.

To complement on-the-job learning, students attend two intensive learning blocks in Scone of six weeks in total where they receive a mix of practical training and classroom theory.

In addition, trainees will take part in a variety of field trips and personal development workshops in giving future employers insight to what the Fast Track program will bring them.

TBA’s education and projects manager Madison Tims is eager to see the program continue to grow and is calling for anyone interested in taking on a trainee this year to get in touch.

“It was really exciting to have our first ever trainees based in Western Australia and Tasmania last year and to keep the numbers on the course and have farms mentoring people.”

“Employers around the country have embraced the program with the 2023 intake of 18 trainees placed in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.”

“The experience of taking on a trainee has been rewarding and beneficial to our team,” said Bhima Thoroughbreds’ Kate Fleming, “and encouraging young people into our industry.”

“Without Fast Track finding, training and bringing young staff into the industry would be much more difficult, and it’s a great way for the young people to get a taste of the industry.”

“I’d absolutely encourage farms to get involved in the program, as it’s a great way to gain fresh new staff with the added bonus of you helping to grow and strengthen our industry.”

World Air Speed Record Reconnects with Scone

World Air Speed Record Reconnects with Scone

Featured Image: Group Captain Hugh Joseph Wilson and Eric Stanley Greenwood

See: World Speed Record | This Day in Aviation

See: Air Speed Record set at Reculver, 7th November 1945 – History of Manston Airfield (manstonhistory.org.uk)

I always knew my great friend and professional colleague Richard Greenwood was closely allied with flying aircraft and very passionate about all things aerial. He holds a licence himself and has also built his own aeroplane from a ‘kit package’ purchased online. Richard and delightful spouse Sue now live in Newmarket UK where Richard has pursued a stellar career in equine veterinary medicine.

Richard and I met when we arrived as ‘Ten Pound Poms’ in 1967 joining the practice of Murray Bain as assistants. I stayed and Richard eventually relocated back to the UK.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/

Richard and Sue’s eldest son now resides on the Gold Coast which brings them back regularly to Australia. They almost always fit in a visit to Scone and stay with Sarah and I @ ‘Geraldton’. On Sunday 4th. February 2024 Richard made a pilgrimage to the Hunter War Birds Memorial Museum at Satur. He was met by a local enthusiast who could barely believe the story of his father’s extraordinary life! If you follow the dialogue and links above, you will understand why. Richard was most impressed with the ‘War Birds’ display and was cognisant of the relocation of the WWII ‘Battle of Britain’ Hurricane to the UK.

Scone Equine Group

The highlight of the Greenwood’s visit was a conducted tour of the inchoate Scone Equine Hospital on Friday 2nd. February 2024 escorted by Dr Catherine Chicken.

See: Equine Veterinary Services NSW: Scone Equine Hospital

By remarkable coincidence Richard and Sue Greenwood lived ‘onsite’ at ‘Tarrangower’ in 1967/1968. They occupied the farm cottage on Ted Brooks’ dairy farm. The author (WPH) and spouse Sarah spent their honeymoon night in the Tarrangower Homestead when just married (26/04/1975). It was to be their home for twelve months. The latter event ‘sewed the seed’ when Tarrangower later became the site for the ‘new’ Scone Racetrack and HVERC/HVRF brought to fruition in 1994.

Apogee Australian Ackworth Alumnus 2024 Dr Fiona Wood AO

Apogee Australian Ackworth Alumnus 2024

Dr Fiona Wood AO

I’m inordinately proud that fellow Ackworth School alumnus Dr Fiona Wood has been further recognised in her adopted country. Dr Wood was Australian of the Year in 2005.

See: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-25/australia-day-2024-honours-announced/103375048 (Scroll down)

Thesaurus:

‘Apogee’ = “apex, zenith, summit, pinnacle, acme, peak, top, highest point”.

Maybe I should raise my game?

Her citation reads:

In Western Australia, prominent plastic-surgeon and 2005 Australian of the year Fiona Wood is receiving her second honours, this time as an Officer of The Order.

“It is extraordinary to be recognised by one’s peers and the community in this way. It really sort of takes your breath away,” she said.

“This is an award that is not just for me individually, it’s for the whole of the team and the extended team and what we’ve been able to do over a long period of time, so this is very special.”

Ms Wood’s “spray on skin” technology has been hailed as an “answered prayer” for burn victims.

Using the world-first technique, she managed to treat 28 patients in the aftermath of the Bali Bombings and greatly reduced their scarring.

Her work still helps burn victims decades after its inception, but she says some cases never leave her.

“It’s part of what we do is having the empathy to actually step along that journey with the patients and their families and carers as well.”

Biscay & Navicular Disease

Featured Image: Biscay’s Fore-Pastern, Navicular and Pedal Bones ‘harvested’ on Saturday 26th October 1986 by the author with the explicit permission of David Bath, Stud Master, Bhima Stud, Scone.

Note: The smaller navicular bones (3) in the centre of the image are considered to be ‘normal’ examples. ‘Floating’ bony exostoses also retrieved are included on the lateral sides of the pedal bones..

See also: Navicular Disease in Horses – Musculoskeletal System – MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)

See also: Navicular Disease in Horses – Musculoskeletal System – MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)

See also: navicular disease in horses – Google Search

It’s intriguing to speculate the influence this condition had on the outstanding career of thoroughbred stallion ‘Biscay’. He’s one of my favourites as I’ve alluded to many times in my ‘Blog’ posts. To my certain knowledge his even more spectacular son ‘Bletchingly’ also suffered from the ailment albeit less stringently. It’s even possible that super-sire Star Kingdom showed signs of the condition during the latter part of his majestic rule at ‘Baramul’. There’s a famous photograph of ‘minder’ Noel Hennessy walking him along the sandy bed of Widden Creek when in strong flow to ‘cool his forefeet’?

Professor Chris Pollitt of Queensland University has made a detailed study of the bones depicted in the featured image. The direct radiographs of the extricated navicular bones are spectacular. I wish I knew the answers, but I suspect I never will. I still find it fascinating, nonetheless. Significantly ‘Biscay’ had a medially (‘inward’) deviated left-fore pastern between the fetlock and hoof. It’s not really apparent from the featured image; but what if you used your imagination? It’s good job his breeder (STW) did not offer him for sale as a yearling. Most ‘good judges’ would have have condemned him! It didn’t prevent him from developing as the fastest young thoroughbred of his generation.

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biscays-minders/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biscay/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biscays-staggering-early-breeding-statistics/

Postscript: I also retrieved the ‘final’ set of fore-shoes from Biscay at this time. They were developed by Master Farrier Albert O’Cass and designed to ease the pain associated with this condition. They were mounted on a polished wooden board by John Flaherty and are now on display at Kitchwin Hills Stud together with similar shoes from ‘Baguette’ and ‘Gunsynd’. They are ‘owned’ by David Bath’s nephew Jarrod Bowditch.

Aboard the 2024 Aushorse Investor’s Guide

Aboard the 2024 Aushorse Investor’s Guide

Posted by: Bernard Kenny at 12:12pm on 1/1/2024

Posted in: Industry News

See: https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/racing-industry/aboard-the-2024-aushorse-investors-guide/799598

Featured Image: ‘Think About It’ winning the TAB ‘The Everest’ in 2023

‘We believe there is no better place to race a horse than in Australia,’ stated Tom Reill, the Aushorse Chief Executive Officer on launching the 2024 Aushorse Investor’s Guide.

‘Let us help you get involved as the experience of racing a horse in Australia is unique, and comes down to our impressive prizemoney, with a million-dollar race run every 3.8 days.’

‘The quality of racing is demonstrated by Australia hosting more of the highest-rated Group One races than any other country, which includes more than 100,000 people in ownership.’

‘Embracing the sport goes beyond ownership, and all major racecourses are in the centre of the cities, creating an atmosphere on major days that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.’

For Tom Reilly ‘a day to capture the imagination was The TAB Everest when the leaders reached the shadow of the post, three Everest favourites hit the line with just ¾ length between them.’

‘The race that has rated the world’s best sprint in five of the past six years had done it again, and Everest Day at Randwick typified so much that’s great about Australian racing and breeding.’

‘The performance of Think About It, a winner bred locally in the Hunter Valley, vying with another Aussie-bred, Imperatriz, to be crowned World’s Best Sprinter and be Australia’s dominance.’

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Alan “Jock” Gollogly

Alan “Jock” Gollogly

Author’s note: ‘I retain many fond memories of ‘gregarious’ Alan Gollogly as a journalist when he covered Scone Races for the NMH’.

Acknowledge: VALE: Alan ‘Jock’ Gollogly, one of racing’s last great characters (racenet.com.au)

Group 1-winning jockey, media man, racetrack “clocker” and general scallywag Alan “Jock” Gollogly passed away overnight after a battle with cancer.

Gollogly was 72.

There wasn’t much in racing Gollogly didn’t have a crack at or didn’t know about.

“He was mates with dad back in the day and from that period on I was with him on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for about the last 30 years or so,” champion Newcastle trainer Kris Lees said.

“When you sit with someone for three hours a day, three days a week you get to know plenty about them and he was extremely loyal to our stable.

“Everyone knew he was a scallywag and it added to his aura.

“During the Knights halcyon days, you’d find him having lunch with Andrew Johns two or three days a week.

“He always kept himself in the best company.

“We sound like dinosaurs but characters like Jock they’re not coming through again.

“Jock would hold court wherever he was. Whether he was telling the truth or not, it didn’t matter.

“He’ll be sadly missed.”

Gollogly was the grandson of Australian racing Hall of Fame inductee Fred Best and he did his apprenticeship under the legendary horseman.

In 1972 he won the Doomben 10,000 aboard Bengalla Lad before embarking on a riding a stint in Hong Kong.

He also rode in a Port Moresby Cup on his way back to Australia where he settled in Newcastle and won a jockeys’ premiership in his adopted hometown.

He also rode the great Luskin Star in a barrier trial.

“I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car but I reckon I know what it feels like having ridden Luskin Star,” Gollogly told Asian Racing Report last year.

Gollogly hung up his saddle in the late 1980s and turned his hand to the racing media.

It is believed that Jock was the first media man to provide pre-parade information on horses and also one of the first on horseback to do post-race interviews following major races.

Gollogly interviewed Shane Dye following his 1995 Cox Plate win aboard Octagonal and the following year he spoke to Darren Beadman after winning the race on Saintly.

Gollogly was also the Newcastle Clocker for many years and wrote a column for over 20 years for the Sportsman and he also wrote for the Newcastle Herald.

He loved to be the breaker of news and he loved finding that unheralded horse,” Lees said.

Racing NSW CEO, Peter V’landys added; “Jock Gollogly was a unique character who was well known and respected throughout the industry”.

“You would not find a more passionate racing person who possessed a fantastic sense of humour and was a master storyteller.

“Alan’s passing is a great loss as he touched so many with his sincerity and compassion. We send our sincere condolences to his family and many friends.”

Australian Turf Club will name a race in Jock’s honour at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Gollogly is survived by his partner Lindsay and her daughter Miranda.

Widden Valley Tennis 1949

Widden Valley Tennis 1949

Featured Image: Acknowledge Richard Harris and ‘Insider Old Photos’, Lifestyle Page 113, ‘The Sunday Telegraph’, December 17, 2023.

I recall Richard (seated in the chair) having sent his wedding photographs to this newspaper some years ago. The photo brought back many happy memories for me although I only made my debut in the Widden Valley in 1967. Many of the would be-Davis Cup aspirants were well known to me, and many became my trusted friends throughout my professional life. I have written eulogies about Cliff Ellis and the Harris Brothers (x3).

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/cliff-ellis-industry-gentleman/

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/holbrook-stud-and-the-harris-family/

In addition, Glen Wahlen was the single teacher at Giant’s Creek Public School when his star pupil later became High Court Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of Australia.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/the-harvard-man/

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/stephen-gageler-to-replace-susan-kiefel-as-high-court-chief-justice/

Richard Harris himself achieved a measure if fame as the breeder of champion racehorse Lord Dudley.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/lord-dudley/

There might have been a budding Adrian Quist, John Bromwich, Ken McGregor or Frank Sedgman in the group but it’s a very long journey from Widden to Wimbledon. I know Cliff Ellis was partially instrumental in hosting both Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall in a demonstration match at Denman RSL Club in the early 1960s. George Ryder at ‘Woodlands’ was THE ‘mover-and-shaker’ then.

Ross Flynn (‘Oakleigh Stud’) is not included in the group because T L (‘Tom’) Flynn was yet to acquire both Emu Vale and Oakleigh Stud. Ross was a mean tennis ‘tragic’ and enjoyed many duals with his great mate Bill ‘Boozer’ Fittock from Aberdeen at the ‘Oakleigh’ homestead ant-bed court. The latter had beaten both Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall as juniors. However, Bill elected for a more congenial and relaxed lifestyle mostly committed to the licensed premises of his home town.

Implanting Plaques in Equine Walk of Fame Kelly Street

Email Message from Peter Haydon

Thursday 14th December 2023

Image: Acknowledge Peter Haydon. ‘TODMAN’ immortalised in Kelly Street

Just watched them put a couple in….looking so good.

“They seem very permanently fixed with cement & 4 holes filled with the 2 part mixed chemical brew to secure the 4 screws attached  underneath. Then a couple of minutes to set with a spirit level. 

They said you would have to break everything to get one out and then nearly impossible.” 

Lexington (Horse)

Lexington (Horse)

Featured Image: ‘Lexington’ (Book) by Kim Wickens

See: Kim Wickens – Author and Equestrian (kimwickensauthor.com)

I’ve just read Kim Wickens book as pictured herewith. Enlightening! I think ‘Lexington’ might be the greatest of all thoroughbred sires. I know of no other who can claim a total of 16 National Champion Sires Titles?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington_(horse)

See: Lexington – Kim Wickens (kimwickensauthor.com)

What is even more remarkable is the ‘Lexington’ was at least partially blind! He suffered from an affliction called Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) otherwise known as ‘Moon Blindness’.

See: Overview of Equine Recurrent Uveitis – Eye Diseases and Disorders – MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)

From a veterinary point of view the author has correctly identified the pathology and prognosis. Under racing legislation today in all major jurisdictions ‘Lexington’ would not have been allowed to start. Essentially there is no cure, only palliative treatment, and care. It makes ‘Lexington’s racetrack performances so much more meritorious overall.

I have made several visits to Lexington, KY USA during my professional career beginning in 1970. We regarded it as the ‘Mecca’ of equine veterinary reproduction & science boasting world leaders in their fields. I never knew the existence of ‘Lexington’ the horse!