What was the horse or race etc that got you started?

[Walt]

Over the years I've heard people talk about the Melbourne Cup and all the excitement of the race being what got them involved in horse racing.

I should never been interested. As a young boy in the early 1970's I'd hear race commentaries all day Saturday in the house via my dads radio and far king hated it. If we went out in the car he'd take his radio with him listening to more race calls which only extended my perceived torture. If I asked him a question the answer was often...hushhhhh. We'd go to football matches and my dad would walk around with a monstrosity of a radio on his shoulder by his ear listening to more poxy race commentaries.  WTAF

On the way home he'd stop at the TAB and he'd tell me he was just nipping in for a minute. 90 minutes later I was still waiting in the car watching blackbirds shagging in a tree or anything remotely interesting to distract me from my boredom.

My dad was a very average perhaps even an unlucky punter and it wasn't unusual to hear just one word yelled at the end of a race call. "Fxxk! If there was a close photo his horse seemed to always beaten. If the siren went it was likely always about his horse. He'd have the leader out by 10 lengths coming to the last jump and it would often fall. 

We had several family friends that owned trotters but I couldn't care less.  

Then in 1974 my dad told me about 50 cent doubles and said I could have $2 to put on 4 x 50c doubles. I had a crack. One of the horses I took was the Terry May trained Palestine. I got the double with it and a concession at another meeting. I can't remember how much I won but I do know it was a lot for a 12 year old boy. I was shouting my mates donuts and milkshakes for weeks   My previous only source of income was knocking on peoples doors and offering myself to work on their section etc. "Bob a job?" was the question. A bob being a shilling or ten cents. 

My school teacher would always give me the racing lift out from the Christchurch Press which I would keenly study while other students were busy learning about Captain Cook's cure for Scurvy etc.

I've owned a few mostly fairly average horses over the years but won enough races to have a couple of pictures up on the wall. What came out of that was the excitement of being involved and life long friendships with people who have won a lot of races including some of our best races. Enjoying some of their big moments vicariously was always a thrill and still is.

Now my involvement is mostly just as a punter but I happily watch races and not bother to punt. If I'm going to punt a decent meeting I will watch the last couple of races / trials of every horse in every race. It's not rare for me to pick the card by having two selections in each race. Having said that, I feel I'm not a good punter. I know how to find winners but still struggle with how best to bet them even after all these years. 

Still love the game after nearly 50 years.

 

 

 

 

 

[Richie]

I pretty much started out the same and also in the 70s.Dad with the transistor radio on no matter where we went.Racing and sport.Told me I could have a few bets when I was about 10yo.A horse that really took my fancy was Trevira and took a double with it and a few others.Collected $130 which was huge and been hooked ever since.Tend to bet more on Aussie gallops now but have had some great collects over the years on harness.Used love trebles but they don't pay anything now with % betting as pools in Nz not big enough .Used to love the big jackpots they used to have for pick6 too but dont happen now.

[paleface adios]

33 minutes ago, Richie said:

I pretty much started out the same and also in the 70s.Dad with the transistor radio on no matter where we went.Racing and sport.Told me I could have a few bets when I was about 10yo.A horse that really took my fancy was Trevira and took a double with it and a few others.Collected $130 which was huge and been hooked ever since.Tend to bet more on Aussie gallops now but have had some great collects over the years on harness.Used love trebles but they don't pay anything now with % betting as pools in Nz not big enough .Used to love the big jackpots they used to have for pick6 too but dont happen now.

didn't nooky bear get you started

[Richie]

12 minutes ago, paleface adios said:

didn't nooky bear get you started

Was punting a while before he came along but had some great collects from him.Was the fastest trotter I ever sat behind,but was the craziest on an off day.Luckily we had good drivers on race day but I dont think we ever seen his true ability.

[Walt]

33 minutes ago, Richie said:

I pretty much started out the same and also in the 70s.Dad with the transistor radio on no matter where we went.Racing and sport.Told me I could have a few bets when I was about 10yo.A horse that really took my fancy was Trevira and took a double with it and a few others.Collected $130 which was huge and been hooked ever since.Tend to bet more on Aussie gallops now but have had some great collects over the years on harness.Used love trebles but they don't pay anything now with % betting as pools in Nz not big enough .Used to love the big jackpots they used to have for pick6 too but dont happen now.

Hey Richie,

I remember Trevira. Ron Hamilton trained him. He ran in Hands Down's 1980 NZ Cup and also ran third in the second of Hands Down's three Easter Cups. He won around 15 or 16 races so was a very decent horse.

Back in the day I was comfortable to back myself with a 5k wager but now I mostly just take trebles and trifecta's and spend about $30 to $50 on each bet so I'm pretty much a small punter that fly's under the TAB radar. A $1000 collect is a very nice result for me these days. I hear you on the treble pools. I feel the TAB don't want you taking bets that tie funds up for multiple races. I spoke with Michael Dore about this years ago when the TAB wanted to shitcan the Pick 6 for that same reason. 

I also follow the decent Australian galloping meetings at Eagle Farm and Flemington especially. I also follow the Ascot meetings in Perth. 

[Furlong]

As a very young child listening to David Clarkson call the races over the radio. His calls were sheer excitement to a youngster. Later on going to the races with my father really hooked me on particularly the trots.

[Walt]

6 minutes ago, Furlong said:

As a very young child listening to David Clarkson call the races over the radio. His calls were sheer excitement to a youngster. Later on going to the races with my father really hooked me on particularly the trots.

 

[mikeynz]

I think for non racing people the racing on the zb stations must have been very nauseating.

There weren't many alternatives either.

Remember when at 6 o clock they use to read all the results ?

Strange though after all these years the coverage on actual radio is the poorest its ever been.

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, Richie said:

pretty much started out the same and also in the 70s.Dad with the transistor radio on no matter where we went.Racing and sport.Told me I could have a few bets when I was about 10yo.A horse that really took my fancy was Trevira and took a double with it and a few others.Collected $130 which was huge and been hooked ever since.Tend to bet more on Aussie gallops now but have had some great collects over the years on harness.Used love trebles

Wow !. exactly the same as you and Walt for me too . Dad always with the transistor all day long early 70's . Put a dollar each way on Alex park trots for me when about 10-12 years old . Captain harcourt and Blair Logie are 2 ones I remember. then we started going to Alex Park from late 70's on . and I wanted to work with em from that moment. started stable work first day , day after school UE 6thform finished..... and best thing ever did. Also remember  the old boy loved trebles . always took 2 horses with the field in final leg. As said " Doubles are easier to get than trebles " . fine wisdom there I spose.    but like you nearly all my bets are on Aussie gallops these days. Got the EF quaddie the other day , as wasn't too hard and they pay pretty good compared to trots. Don't mind taking Allstars in trifectas though on Nz trots , as they are always in it. 🏆💰

Edited June 5, 2023 by Gammalite

[Special Agent]

Funny you all had the racing mad Dads.  My mother was the one with the gigantic transistor radio.

[Newmarket]

Dad was a $2 punter, as others have said, radio used to boom while he was working away in his large garden. 
Mum used to follow Harry White, so would back him in the Melbourne spring races, won a few cups from memory, good odds. 
 

Afta school, was part of a group of 6 that loved the racing, still see most of them nearly 40yrs later. 
 

Don’t bother much with NZ gallops, I hate it when horses drop out half way thru race, never see that with Aussie racing, which I never miss on a Sat arvo. Still follow harness on a Thurs / Fri nite, but sometimes rather bet on the league

[With A Dream]

1 hour ago, Special Agent said:

Funny you all had the racing mad Dads.  My mother was the one with the gigantic transistor radio.

Lol same here.   I hated it until my parents took me to show day & I was hooked from then on. 

[Furlong]

5 hours ago, Walt said:

 

Thank you so much Walt. Boy those calls still make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, and bring back fantastic memories. I really do think he is the best caller we have had although Reon and Peter Kelly came close.

[Brodie]

24 minutes ago, Furlong said:

Thank you so much Walt. Boy those calls still make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, and bring back fantastic memories. I really do think he is the best caller we have had although Reon and Peter Kelly came close.

The fellah that does the trials in Southland models himself on Dave Clarkson!

[Walt]

25 minutes ago, Furlong said:

Thank you so much Walt. Boy those calls still make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, and bring back fantastic memories. I really do think he is the best caller we have had although Reon and Peter Kelly came close.

Very welcome. I started off at Nelson where the caller was Jack O'Donnell and I thought he was the bees knees. Him taking me into his callers box to watch him call a race was a fun highlight. I'm certain Chief will remember Jack with his Nelson connection. At a time where racecallers were fingernails down a blackboard to me, I looked forward to Jacks calls so I can relate to your fond memories of Dave Clarkson. 

[Shad]

2 hours ago, Special Agent said:

Funny you all had the racing mad Dads.  My mother was the one with the gigantic transistor radio.

Remember the days of huddling around the old vavle radio which were super good at picking up the local stations that broadcasted the local racing only, ow times have changed., those old radiograms were magic.

[Walt]

3 hours ago, Gammalite said:

Wow !. exactly the same as you and Walt for me too . Dad always with the transistor all day long early 70's . Put a dollar each way on Alex park trots for me when about 10-12 years old . Captain harcourt and Blair Logie are 2 ones I remember. then we started going to Alex Park from late 70's on . and I wanted to work with em from that moment. started stable work first day , day after school UE 6thform finished..... and best thing ever did. Also remember  the old boy loved trebles . always took 2 horses with the field in final leg. As said " Doubles are easier to get than trebles " . fine wisdom there I spose.    but like you nearly all my bets are on Aussie gallops these days. Got the EF quaddie the other day , as wasn't too hard and they pay pretty good compared to trots. Don't mind taking Allstars in trifectas though on Nz trots , as they are always in it. 🏆💰

Fascinating stuff bro and cool to have a bit of a yarn about such things. Having said that, I almost got sidetracked into having a yarn with a beautiful Ukrainian lady with an eye catching cleavage when I logged in. The fact I chose you instead highlights just how much of a draw harness racing is

I remember the beautiful chestnut Captain Harcourt trained by Arnie Gadsby and usually driven by Tommy Knowles. I also recall following a trotter of Roy Purdon's around that time called Framalda. She won a lot of races.

Another interesting aspect for me about Captain Harcourt was his sire Local Light. DG had Leading Light also by Local Light and Derek, Jack and Rod won the 1969 Auckland Cup together at long odds. 

As for trebles. I've noticed a very reliable pattern with treble prices over the years. Imagine the first leg paid $3, the second leg also paid $3 but the third leg was a roughie and paid $40. The divy will usually be between $150 and $300 as you still had a lot of live tickets after two short priced legs. If however you had the same priced winners but the $40 winner was in the first leg, the treble price could be anything from $600 to $2000.  As a result I often take FX2X2 just to cover that aspect. Cost very little for 5%. I've been paid out the modest pool numerous times on just the first two legs.  

[Walt]

32 minutes ago, Shad said:

Remember the days of huddling around the old vavle radio which were super good at picking up the local stations that broadcasted the local racing only, ow times have changed., those old radiograms were magic.

Yes to that as well. I remember waiting until it got dark so I could get better reception for the night trots. 3ZB in Christchurch was right next to the National Program on the wireless. It would drive me nuts when the race was in the home straight and 3ZB would temporarily fade out and the National Program would take over for the next 30 seconds or so. 

[Gammalite]

25 minutes ago, Walt said:

Fascinating stuff bro and cool to have a bit of a yarn about such things. Having said that, I almost got sidetracked into having a yarn with a beautiful Ukrainian lady with an eye catching cleavage when I logged in. The fact I chose you instead highlights just how much of a draw harness racing is

I remember the beautiful chestnut Captain Harcourt trained by Arnie Gadsby and usually driven by Tommy Knowles. I also recall following a trotter of Roy Purdon's around that time called Framalda. She won a lot of races

 Chief must be trying to keep a couple of good sorts on the ad's again. Think the Ukranian girls would like Oz and Nz to get away from the blasted silly war currently. might put an order in lol.....😄

Hell yeah . the old Captain Harcourt was a real ripper . He Did Pluck an Auckland Cup too with Tommy Knowles driving . looks like the Cardigan Bay colours of Wolfies ? that he carried . Would of plucked the Trifecta (except they didn't have em' then 😁 ) with his fellow flashy chestnuts Speedy Guest and Noodlum 2nd and 3rd as well .... 

 

[Shad]

41 minutes ago, Walt said:

Yes to that as well. I remember waiting until it got dark so I could get better reception for the night trots. 3ZB in Christchurch was right next to the National Program on the wireless. It would drive me nuts when the race was in the home straight and 3ZB would temporarily fade out and the National Program would take over for the next 30 seconds or so. 

Yep, how very true, some stations easier than others, I remember the Nelson station was hard to pick up, some used to hook it up to the telephone for better reception, and old man told me to put  onion's beside the radio, I replied will it help with reception, he said, it will go with all the tripe on there.

[Walt]

33 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

 Chief must be trying to keep a couple of good sorts on the ad's again. Think the Ukranian girls would like Oz and Nz to get away from the blasted silly war currently. might put an order in lol.....😄

Hell yeah . the old Captain Harcourt was a real ripper . He Did Pluck an Auckland Cup too with Tommy Knowles driving . looks like the Cardigan Bay colours of Wolfies ? that he carried . Would of plucked the Trifecta (except they didn't have em' then 😁 ) with his fellow flashy chestnuts Speedy Guest and Noodlum 2nd and 3rd as well .... 

 

What a great picture Gammalite. Same colours used on Cardy but unsure if the same as Victor Supreme etc. 

Good memories of Speedy Guest and Noodlum was a ripper for Freeman Holmes. I can still see his picket line formline.

[Walt]

32 minutes ago, Shad said:

Yep, how very true, some stations easier than others, I remember the Nelson station was hard to pick up, some used to hook it up to the telephone for better reception, and old man told me to put  onion's beside the radio, I replied will it help with reception, he said, it will go with all the tripe on there.

2ZN in Nelson had a lady named Margaret Costello. She would do adds where she'd talk about all the shops she had visited etc. The very last thing you wanted to hear when you were just popping out to the car at work to hear the big race or find out the result of a close photo finish. The onion by the radio was a beauty and very appropriate...haha. I'll be using that one  

[Shad]

2 hours ago, Walt said:

2ZN in Nelson had a lady named Margaret Costello. She would do adds where she'd talk about all the shops she had visited etc. The very last thing you wanted to hear when you were just popping out to the car at work to hear the big race or find out the result of a close photo finish. The onion by the radio was a beauty and very appropriate...haha. I'll be using that one  

Glad you liked it, and yes the delay to hear the official results usually after an add break and a song or two, we are quite lucky these days, radio Pacific provided a good service to in later years, except when two mid week meetings, the lesser meeting would only give you the last 800m of the commentary, times certainly changed.

[Walt]

9 hours ago, Shad said:

Glad you liked it, and yes the delay to hear the official results usually after an add break and a song or two, we are quite lucky these days, radio Pacific provided a good service to in later years, except when two mid week meetings, the lesser meeting would only give you the last 800m of the commentary, times certainly changed.

 

My pet hate was always the lack of information on Enquiries. You won the race but the funds didn't go into your account. Eventually you'd find out there was an enquiry but they would never tell you what it was about. It may be about your winning bet. It may be fourth against third. 

Radio Pacific was like Christmas morning when they arrived. Couldn't believe we could not only hear the races we were betting on but would hear the results promptly. 

Action TV made every day like Christmas morning for punters. They have been a long overdue Godsend for everyone involved but they stopped evolving and went backward instead of forward. Having studio presenters straight out of school with no history in the game advising seasoned punters what to do and what was unfolding resulted in the mute button being constantly used. Then we get seasoned presenters that added to the experience but they had to tow the Trackside narrative so an own goal resulted. 

The push for quantity of quality resulted in wonderful and or exciting features of a race being lost in the rush to get over to the Bendigo dogs and watch a greyhound take a dump prior to going into the boxes. Sadly, Trackside has gone backwards in many ways but is still light years better than listening to regional radio stations for racing coverage.

TV coverage of racing was huge as was the introduction of sports betting. A game changer for me was also when you could put your bet on right up until the jump. I remember having to get to the TAB an hour+ before the race started. Memory fading but I think it was an hour before the race for win and place betting and an hour and ten minutes for doubles. 

 

[mikeynz]

Putting the radio against a 8 wire fence often would improve the signal.

That guy calling the trials at Winton, very enthusiastic, spose ya got to love him for that.