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Bit Of A Yarn
A Boutique South Island Trainer Looking For Horses Needing A Change Of Scenery
NOTICE TO BOAY'ers: Major Update Coming

Here's a treat.....one of the great NZ Cups. Hands Down winning the 1980 Cup after a titanic duel with Delightful Lady

Walt

By Walt
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Walt Mentor

Walt

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1 hour ago, Rangatira said:

Patience is a virtue.

43 years cheers Walt

Hope you are working on the FFA already 

Having six kids teaches us patience Rangatira....and of course the need for a money tree in the back yard :) 

You'll know that Old Bill won the FFA that year as well as the Cup as many Cup winners do. He dashed past Lord Module late which as you know, very few did that when L.M began with them.

We haven't got the FFA on tape but we are going to try and source it. The Cup was converted from VHS to a USB only today.

DG was a terrific guy. He's one of the few in the game you'll struggle to find anyone that has a negative word to say about him. His deeds with The Bloss post her racing career reflected a man who loved his horses and harness racing in general and never missed an opportunity to promote both. He was also great with people regardless if they were dignitaries or people who just needed a hand up. A huge loss so am stoked to see him in the clip in addition to a 26 year old Peter who drove Hands Down that day like he was Fonzie without a care in the world. Hard case seeing owner Bill about a foot shorter than the mic to make his speech and Rob Muldoon getting his usual warm welcome....aka a round of boos :) 

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Newmarket Grand Master

Newmarket

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One of my favs was Hands Down, pity he struggled on tight/ right handed tracks. His cup win was brilliant, but I really looked forward to the July /August kick off at Addington. 
A group of us would get a hot dog, walk to the start while freezing then watch HD bobble at the start, add ground to his handicap then work around the field and be right there at the finish… big effort. 
Then do same with Sir Castleton… back in the days when you looked forward to a Saturday. Even watched Canterbury play at Lancaster Park then Addington put on buses to track… great days
 

 

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Rangatira Grand Master

Rangatira

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16 hours ago, Walt said:

You'll know that Old Bill won the FFA that year as well as the Cup as many Cup winners do. He dashed past Lord Module late which as you know, very few did that when L.M began with them.

Lord Module likened to an Electric Express that day.

Scotch Tar led off the gate and ran the opening mile in 1.57.4

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Blackie Rising Star

Blackie

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Thanks Walt

I was standing down at the 200m mark and Delightful Lady definitely had a 1/2 length on Hands Down then, Peter sitting as quiet as a church mouse, learnt a lot that day…be in front at the post, not before 😎.

A little bit of trivia for you, once parked HD in a race, thought I’d outstay him, good judge that I am, ha!

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Walt Mentor

Walt

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4 hours ago, Rangatira said:

Lord Module likened to an Electric Express that day.

Scotch Tar led off the gate and ran the opening mile in 1.57.4

We are pulling strings Rangatira and hope we can see that mouth watering replay. Scotch Tar had the speed of a pacer. Unsure if you have FB and can see this old replay but if you can, you'll enjoy it. As will Gammalite, Blackie, Shad, Galah, Brodie and the rest of the crew.

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1235515803713092

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Walt Mentor

Walt

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1 hour ago, Blackie said:

Thanks Walt

I was standing down at the 200m mark and Delightful Lady definitely had a 1/2 length on Hands Down then, Peter sitting as quiet as a church mouse, learnt a lot that day…be in front at the post, not before 😎.

A little bit of trivia for you, once parked HD in a race, thought I’d outstay him, good judge that I am, ha!

A few tried Blackie :) ...truth is if you hand up then you've lost control and then have to come off the back of a warrior and run past him. As you know, very few ever did that. 

I had a fascinating chat with Pete about his drive. As you know he was only 26 and having his first drive in the Cup. It looked like he was holding Old Bill for the last hurrah but looks can be deceiving. He just knew Hands Down would keep giving and he got the very best out of him. Had he panicked, he would have run second. Superb drive from a terrific guy and a champion driver from a wonderful family.  You're absolutely right, Delightful Lady clearly headed Hands Down in the straight. Without wanting to embellish this race, I see it as the harness version of Bonecrusher / Our Waverly Star in the Cox Plate six years later in 1986. 

Pete had something else on his mind as soon as he won the Cup which made his drive even more impressive. That something would have been a big distraction to a lesser person but that's the character of him. Top shelf just like his dad DG. 

 

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Gammalite Grand Master

Gammalite

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On 1/30/2024 at 5:09 PM, Rangatira said:

 

Hope you are working on the FFA already

Great win in the FFA , powering to victory. no video but here's the Photo at the finish.

Hands Down at the Peak of his Powers that Cup week.

HD Did go on and win the Easter Cup by 3 lengths defeating Delightful Lady,  again over 2 miles that season as well. 

 

DSC03138.JPG

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Shad Mentor

Shad

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On 30/01/2024 at 5:52 PM, Walt said:

 

Unseen for years, we can now watch and enjoy this epic Cup.

 

 

 

Great bit of coverage, no rushing off to the dogs in timbuktu in those days, they always covered the afters, couple of my favourites were Basil Dean and No Response, couple of great old campaigners.Cheers for sharing the memories.

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Walt Mentor

Walt

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28 minutes ago, Shad said:

Great bit of coverage, no rushing off to the dogs in timbuktu in those days, they always covered the afters, couple of my favourites were Basil Dean and No Response, couple of great old campaigners.Cheers for sharing the memories.

knew you'd appreciate it Shad. 

Basil Dean was a big fav of mine. I can recall numerous great battles with Sir Castleton and co.

As for the far king dogs. I couldn't believe what was happening on NZ Cup day. There was a TV blaring in the members area with greyhound racing on. I didn't see a single person showing a blind bit of interest in it but it just carried on devaluing such a magnificent day. Some folk just don't get it Shad

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Walt Mentor

Walt

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50 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Great win in the FFA , powering to victory. no video but here's the Photo at the finish.

Hands Down at the Peak of his Powers that Cup week.

HD Did go on and win the Easter Cup by 3 lengths defeating Delightful Lady,  again over 2 miles that season as well. 

 

DSC03138.JPG

Great pic Gammalite. Memories rush back in. 

There is a lot of irony in this photo for me. I have great respect for the entire Jones family and loved Hands Down. ....and Lord Module will always be my fav horse just as the mighty Gammalite will always be yours. 

Isn't memory lane a neat place to go and visit. 

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Shad Mentor

Shad

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7 hours ago, Walt said:

knew you'd appreciate it Shad. 

Basil Dean was a big fav of mine. I can recall numerous great battles with Sir Castleton and co.

As for the far king dogs. I couldn't believe what was happening on NZ Cup day. There was a TV blaring in the members area with greyhound racing on. I didn't see a single person showing a blind bit of interest in it but it just carried on devaluing such a magnificent day. Some folk just don't get it Shad

Thanks was a great piece of coverage, yes unfortunately these day it seems all about quantity wether there's any interest or not, have got a video of Basil Dean winning one of the big trot races, can't remember which one, and don't have the old video recorder hooked these days, technology certainly moved on since those days, no response certainly show some high speed at the right end of his races, the one where he weaved his way through the field to win was most impressive.

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the galah Grand Master

the galah

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17 hours ago, Walt said:

We are pulling strings Rangatira and hope we can see that mouth watering replay. Scotch Tar had the speed of a pacer. Unsure if you have FB and can see this old replay but if you can, you'll enjoy it. As will Gammalite, Blackie, Shad, Galah, Brodie and the rest of the crew.

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1235515803713092

i remember being there that day. In fact i think i can spot myself watching the race against the outside fence. great days.

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