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

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

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.

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.

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!

Installation of the Equine Walk of Fame Plaques

Featured Image: Allan Greer’s ‘Map’ of the installation of the Equine Walk of Fame Plaques

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/equine-walk-of-fame/

I wish to commend both Chloe Leake and Allan Greer of the UHSC for driving this long-standing concept to conclusion. They’ve been a breath of fresh air after some chronic pettifogging. It’s been a protracted incubation. It’s my belief that this tribute to our eclectic heritage will prevail for at least this century and perhaps the next? I’ve stated earlier that the current makeover of Kelly Street is the greatest since the construction of the Great North Road between 1926 – 1832. This was at the behest of then 6^th. Governor of the Colony of NSW, Sir Ralph Darling. It may be significant that he made land grants to his brothers-in-law, Henry and William Dumaresq who owned properties in the Upper Hunter (St Helier’s, Muswellbrook and St Aubins, Scone) plus New England (Tillibuster & Saumarez, Armidale).

The present revitalisation of Kelly Street is no accident. It’s taken well over 20 years’ consistent lobbying to remove the heavy vehicles, ‘unnecessary’ through traffic and construct a bypass. Despite protracted ‘official’ opposition from local government of both elected and employed personnel this was eventually achieved. I’m inordinately proud to have been in the vanguard of the ‘troops’ since inception.

Terry Goodyear & ‘The Hut’

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/scone-horse-festival-parade-1986/

See also; The Hut | R.M.Williams®️ (rmwilliams.com.au)

Terry Goodyear gave me a ‘big lift’ in the Scone Horse Festival Parade in 1986. He’s the young guy holding the reins while I’m doing my best to hang on and balance! I’ve just discovered Terry has moved on to bigger and better things (See ‘The Hut’). Although what could be better than travelling this great wide brown land escorting the Carlton United Heavy Horse Team to events throughout including the ‘greatest of all’ Sydney Royal Easter Show?

These days I rely on my good mate Billy Greer with his horse and buggy to carry/escort me around the course. Now aged 81 I don’t think I could clamber up onto the Carlton United Barrels. Perhaps we should lighten them up first?

Vain Colours at Scone Races

Featured Image: ‘Vain’ by Michael Jeffery. Pat Hyland up.

I was standing at the parade enclosure at Scone Races Monday 20^th November 2023. Race No. 6 ‘The Yarraman Park Maiden Plate 1200 Metres’ was due to start soon. The jockeys had just mounted. Very casually Arthur Mitchell advised me that Number 8, ‘Figment’ was carrying the ‘Vain Colours’. (See featured image).

I was momentarily ‘gobsmacked’ but the statement was both valid and its explanation equally profound. ‘Figment’ was racing in the interests of William Johnston Bloodstock, Elated Bloodstock, Mrs K W Mitchell, H Nagata, Mr C Dayman, R G Christie, Kilpara Racing, J Roberts, A A Burns and C Burns. Will Johnston is Arthur’s son-in-law and Mrs Kirsty Mitchell his spouse. It’s a true blueblood thoroughbred lineage. The Johnston Family of Victoria bred and raced ‘Vain’ (‘Wilkes’ ex ‘Elated’ by ‘Orgoglio’ by ‘Nasrullah’) while the Mitchell Family are currently ‘cock-of-the walk’ in thoroughbred breeding’s elite category. “I Am Invincible” is about to cement his 3^rd successive Champion Stallion triumph while well supported by his Group I winning progeny ‘Hell Bent’. ‘Brave Smash’ (JPN) is no slouch either.

See: William Johnson Bloodstock

See: Yarraman Park Stud – I Am Invincible & Hellbent

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowdon from Scone and although racing well ‘Figment’ could not quite deliver on the day running a close 3^rd in a very competitive race. The scenario evoked some special memories which came flooding back. ‘Vain’ was one of the very finest individual thoroughbreds I was ever privileged to work with during his long sojourn at ‘Widden Stud’. I feel enormously fortunate to have ‘lived the dream’ for almost 6 decades.

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

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/bim-vain-1980/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/golden-slipper-princess-1969/

Biophilic Design

See: Biophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design – PMC (nih.gov)

Featured Image: Biophilic Design

I hope this adds cachet to my previous ‘blog’. It seemed like a good idea at the time!

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biophilia-benefits-in-scone/

Abstract

Biophilia is a human personality trait described initially by Erich Fromm and later by E.O. Wilson, both of whom agree that biophilia has a biological basis and that it is fundamental to develop harmonious relationships between humans and the biosphere. This review aims at establishing a definition of biophilia as an evolutionary process. To this end, the most significant studies of evolutionary psychology were considered, to outline the fundamental characteristics of a hypothetical biophilic temperament/personality and to reconstruct a plausible history of biophilia as an evolutionary process. This process considers different typologies of Nature (wilderness, rural, and urban) and human cultures (Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Burg) and leads us to consider environmental preference and psycho-physiological recovery in relation to the threshold of time spent in contact with Nature. Unfortunately, modern people, especially children, lack direct and frequent contact with Nature and this can have negative consequences on their physical and mental health. Biophilic design, considering the evolutionary roots of this architectural approach, is an effective way of planning/designing interior and urban environments to stimulate the innate biophilia of the individual.

Keywords: biophilia hypothesis, biophilia ontogenesis, biophilia phylogenesis, biophilic design, biophilic temperament

Biophilia Benefits in Scone

Featured Image: ‘Biophilia Benefits’ Luna Botanicals.

See: https://www.lunabotanicals.com/journal/biophilia

I admit I’d never heard of it; not until my son-in-law co-authored an erudite medical/scientific application in a peer reviewed international journal based on the principle. Dr Mark De Souza was nominated for a national award 2024 (NT) for his seminal work on the topic at Royal Darwin Regional Hospital.

See: IJERPH | Free Full-Text | Healthy Patients, Workforce and Environment: Coupling Climate Adaptation and Mitigation to Wellbeing in Healthcare (mdpi.com) 

The term ‘Biophilia’

See: https://living-future.org.au/biophilia/

The term “biophilia” was popularized by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in the 1960s. In his work, he used biophilia (bio, ‘life’ and philia, ‘friendly feeling toward’) to describe the biological drive toward self-preservation. Formally used in Fromm’s The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), biophilia was defined as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”

In the 1970s American biologist, Edward O. Wilson extended the word’s meaning, to denote “the rich, natural pleasure that comes from being surrounded by living organisms.” In his best-known work, Biophilia (1984), Wilson used the term to describe the genetic drive to focus on and affiliate with nature and other life forms. This prompted researchers in a wide range of fields including the built environment to explore the phenomenon.

It crossed my mind that the ‘Revitalisation of Scone’ project embraces many of the same principles although we wouldn’t have realised it at the time?

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/scone-revitalisation-project/

I don’t think I’ll discuss this with my confreres whom I meet every morning on my peregrinations to the newsagents in Kelly Street. However, I’m anxiously anticipating the final product, hopefully no later than early 2024.