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.

Scone Revitalisation Project

Featured Image: Artists Impression St Aubin’s Town Square

I’ve written extensive ‘blogs’ about this subject. I’m grateful to the Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry plus the Upper Hunter Shire Council for further enlightenment. This has been a long journey and many constituent elements had to be resolved before arriving at the ‘final solution’. Fundamental was the removal of the massive heavy vehicle component through the Kelly Street corridor; the social, cultural, and economic epicentre of the town and district. 1.4 million per annum was far too many. This necessitated the construction of Scone Bypass as an essential pre-requisite.

See also: Scone CBD Revitalisation – UHSC (nsw.gov.au)

See also: Scone_MP-Report_160705_Final.indd (nsw.gov.au)

See also: Scone Revitalisation Project – November Update – Scone Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc

I’ve lived in Scone for over 56+ years and like to think I’ve played my part.

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/why-scone-2024/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/new-england-highway-bypass-of-scone/

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

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/horse-heritage-precinct-scone/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/scone-nursery-of-champions/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/hoof-prints-leaving-a-legacy/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/hoof-prints/

 

Sydney Spring Racing Carnival 2023 ‘Higher Than Everest’

See: Record highs at the Sydney Everest Carnival (justhorseracing.com.au)

Record highs at the Sydney Everest Carnival

Posted by: Bernard Kenny at 9:56am on 12/11/2023

Posted in: Horse Racing News

 

FEATURED IMAGE: STEVE HART

“The 2023 Sydney Everest Carnival was Sydney’s biggest and best Spring on record, with record participation and prizemoney complemented by world-class competition.”

James Ross, ATC Head of Racing and Wagering further stated “a total of 29 Group and Listed races including six Group 1 events were contested, with 21 races worth $1m or more.”

“We expect several of our races feature in the world’s top 100, with the TAB Everest the world’s highest rated sprint race, and including the $5m King Charles III Stakes being very successful.”

“The strength of Sydney’s biggest training centre Warwick Farm was further highlighted with Joe Pride leading in first and third in the TAB Everest, with a third of the field from the centre.”

“The stature of the James Squire Golden Eagle again rose significantly with international participation and victory for Japan leading to increased engagement from the Japanese market.

$87m in prizemoney was won from 16 September to 11 November, including the world’s richest turf race the $20m TAB Everest and second richest race the $10m James Squire Golden Eagle.

12 weeks of world-class racing which concluded with significant increases across key areas, including a new record crowd for modern-day Royal Randwick of 46,498 people on TAB Everest Day.

In all, Racing NSW’S increased investment in the $87m Sydney Everest Carnival at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick has set a new level for Spring racing that’s been extremely Successful.

On the scoreboard, Nash Rawiller finished first as the Carnival’s Leading Jockey on 66 points with 14 wins, based on the 3-2-1 system, with Jason Collett second on 41 points and 5 wins.

Sydney’s 13-time premiership trainer Chris Waller was the Leading Trainers on 66 points with 12 wins with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott second with 42 points having had 9 race wins.

Again, it was Chris Waller as Leading Group 1 Trainer with Rediener, Militarize and Fangirl and Adam Hyeronimus as Leading Group 1 Jockey with wins on Tom Kitten and Tropical Squall.

Across this 2023 Sydney Everest Carnival a total of 1512 acceptances were taken, up by 129 horses from the previous Spring, while nominations increased to 2803, up from 2520 last year.

The 11th $20m TAB Everest was won by the Warwick Farm and Joe Pride trained Think About It, ridden by Sam Clipperton, and the $10m James Squire Golden Eagle by Japan’s Obamburumai.

Trained by Keiji Yoshimura and ridden by Josh Parr, Obamburumai headed the eleven internationals at the Carnival, with 12 arrived for the Spring Carnival, and 10 to continue racing in Sydney.

The Sydney Everest Carnival was signifyingly enhanced with the Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes on TAB Everest Day, won by Fangirl for Chris Waller and champion jockey James McDonald.

Two of the Australian Turf Club’s flagship races, the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom and Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Metropolitan were won by Sydney trainers and two Sydney  emale jockeys.

Kathy O’Hara took out the ATB Epsom in the Chris Waller trained Rediener, and Just Fine ridden by Rachel King for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott saluted in the James Squire Metropolitan.

The Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes was won by Adam Hyeronimus on Tropical Squall for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and on Tom Kitten for James Cummings and owner breeder Godolphin.

Nash Rawiller also took out the Group 1 $1m Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes on Tom Kitten, while he won the new Carnival feature $1m 7 Stakes on Think It Over for trainer Kerry Parker.