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Bit Of A Yarn

Monday Night Viewing - Miracle Mile 1980


Happy Sunrise

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And just to show it wasn't a fluke he does it again at Addington after being last.

Things to note in the video: the mobile vehicle, the crowd on the rail, the whipping, Lord Module acting like Brodie with restrictions, and the coloured seats after the finish.

Good times for all you oldies who can remember this era.

 

 

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18 minutes ago, Happy Sunrise said:

And just to show it wasn't a fluke he does it again at Addington after being last.

Things to note in the video: the mobile vehicle, the crowd on the rail, the whipping, Lord Module acting like Brodie with restrictions, and the coloured seats after the finish.

Good times for all you oldies who can remember this era.

 

 

Yep, that mobile is a classic, wonder where it went? 

No buildings over the fence stands out, worked with an old fella who reckoned the 2 story yellow house was a brothel!! As a young fella always looked at it when watching a race, never knew if he was taking the piss or not? Anybody go there ?

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Great track was Harold park, give me that any day over the monstrosity that is menangle!!

Having been to watch a couple of super rugby games at Westpac stadium in Wellington a few years ago, I thought that would have been an ideal place for a small Harold park like track, couldn't do any worse attendance wise to super rugby games, which is piss poor along with the non existent atmosphere! Sure all Black's play there once in a while, but I would much prefer to go to a nice track made for spectators rather than watch a bunch of over rated wankers run around!

 

Edited by Flagship uberalles
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3 minutes ago, Flagship uberalles said:

Great track was Harold park, give me that any day over the monstrosity that is menangle!!

Having been to watch a couple of super rugby games at Westpac stadium in Wellington, I thought that would have been an ideal place for a small Harold park like track, couldn't do any worse attendance wise to super rugby games, which is piss poor along with the non existent atmosphere! Sure all Black's play there once in a while, but I would much prefer to go to a nice track made for spectators rather than watch a bunch of over rated wankers run around!

 

making the seats yellow was a big mistake

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3 hours ago, Flagship uberalles said:

Great track was Harold park, give me that any day over the monstrosity that is menangle!!

Had a lot of History and way back in the early 70,s I was there every Frid night with my pay packet in tow.

Story time:  First night there I had no idea what to expect, so I spent the first 3/4 of the night taking notes, as I spent most of my teens at Hutt Park.

It was a tight track and no passing lanes back then, but with bookies ,great views of the track and no rain (aka Hutt Park), I was in seventh heaven. Finally I picked an ex Kiwi by the name of Kiwi Lad paying 16,s and off the front, and home it rolled, with 20 or 30 bucks on the nose. Three weeks pay right then and there.  Needless to say , being young and a bit wet I expected that to happen almost every time I picked something to win. PPhhtttt.

During the 1973 Inters at Harold Park( which I went to on every night) I got talking to some Greeks and Italians who like me sat roughly in the same place on racing night. It transpired they were in the know, as they had backed Hondo Grattan well before the series at phenomenal odds. On finals night I couldn't help but enjoy the screaming emanating from them as Hondo got up to beat Royal Ascot(who incidentally I had along with Arapaho). That whole series was standing room only, it was packed to the gunnels and still remains my Fav memory.

On top of that ,at the time of the series I was working for a Plumber from Harbord (near Manly) and we were doing some terrace houses up in Glebe, just nxt to the Park. For those who know the area it is very compact and behind the Park were a series of alleyways between small terraced homes. One particular day while strolling down one of the alleys, I heard and saw a horse jogging along with a cart behind it. Having watched and said hello as it passed , it was only much later I found out it was in fact Hondo Grattan.  Turnbull used to jog it around the back alleys before and during the series, obviously keeping it quiet ,which was reported in the papers afterwards. 

Thanks for the tip buddy!!!.

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1 hour ago, globederby12 said:

During the 1973 Inters at Harold Park( which I went to on every night) I got talking to some Greeks and Italians who like me sat roughly in the same place on racing night. It transpired they were in the know, as they had backed Hondo Grattan well before the series at phenomenal odds. On finals night I couldn't help but enjoy the screaming emanating from them as Hondo got up to beat Royal Ascot(who incidentally I had along with Arapaho). That whole series was standing room only, it was packed to the gunnels and still remains my Fav memory.

Brilliant stuff.

Here is the final

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA3R66WHYAg

 

 

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4 hours ago, globederby12 said:

Had a lot of History and way back in the early 70,s I was there every Frid night with my pay packet in tow.

Story time:  First night there I had no idea what to expect, so I spent the first 3/4 of the night taking notes, as I spent most of my teens at Hutt Park.

It was a tight track and no passing lanes back then, but with bookies ,great views of the track and no rain (aka Hutt Park), I was in seventh heaven. Finally I picked an ex Kiwi by the name of Kiwi Lad paying 16,s and off the front, and home it rolled, with 20 or 30 bucks on the nose. Three weeks pay right then and there.  Needless to say , being young and a bit wet I expected that to happen almost every time I picked something to win. PPhhtttt.

During the 1973 Inters at Harold Park( which I went to on every night) I got talking to some Greeks and Italians who like me sat roughly in the same place on racing night. It transpired they were in the know, as they had backed Hondo Grattan well before the series at phenomenal odds. On finals night I couldn't help but enjoy the screaming emanating from them as Hondo got up to beat Royal Ascot(who incidentally I had along with Arapaho). That whole series was standing room only, it was packed to the gunnels and still remains my Fav memory.

On top of that ,at the time of the series I was working for a Plumber from Harbord (near Manly) and we were doing some terrace houses up in Glebe, just nxt to the Park. For those who know the area it is very compact and behind the Park were a series of alleyways between small terraced homes. One particular day while strolling down one of the alleys, I heard and saw a horse jogging along with a cart behind it. Having watched and said hello as it passed , it was only much later I found out it was in fact Hondo Grattan.  Turnbull used to jog it around the back alleys before and during the series, obviously keeping it quiet ,which was reported in the papers afterwards. 

Thanks for the tip buddy!!!.

Great stuff globe .the best of Times with huge characters round every corner. 

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To be honest, you couldn't replicate those days no matter what track it was now.

I watch Menangle at times( we lived in Camden for a while) and there is something intrinsically missing. The only word I can think of is Sanitised. Devoid of a soul. 

I think Glouchester Park is great, probably because everything is compact , up close and in your face. Harewood and I went to the Inters there and it was a brilliant atmosphere.

 

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1 minute ago, globederby12 said:

To be honest, you couldn't replicate those days no matter what track it was now.

I watch Menangle at times( we lived in Camden for a while) and there is something intrinsically missing. The only word I can think of is Sanitised. Devoid of a soul. 

I think Glouchester Park is great, probably because everything is compact , up close and in your face. Harewood and I went to the Inters there and it was a brilliant atmosphere.

 

It is atmosphere that is missing, everything is made for t.v, so they can pump out race after race, straight from menangle to Dapto dogs then Seoul, everything dumbed down to squeeze every $$$$ from the punter without them going to the track. The magic slowly being eroded. You are right about Gloucester park probably the only Australasian non grass track (apart from Addington cup week) that you could go to on a Friday night and watch exciting racing with a decent crowd. 

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8 hours ago, globederby12 said:

he only word I can think of is Sanitised. Devoid of a soul. 

I miss the big stand at Addington and everything that was underneath it.

The problem with modern design is it is based on functionality and consequently is so dry. The only decent thing about Addington is the grass area outside the spectators bar which connects those people to the track. It is good when kids are mucking around on the grass too and then the horses come out right next to everyone, has atmosphere. Apart from that it is a bit dead. The top floor is encased by glass.screw that! Might as well be at home watching on TV.

Hence, why I believe grass track racing is the saviour of harness racing with its picnic and old day traditions of bringing people together.

 

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