[AusRace] A Day at the Races - the early 70's

[Tony Moffat]

8.3+++++++++ Day at the Races – the early 70’s

 

My youngest daughter was born on January 28, in a house, a mansion
really, on Mt Alexander Road at 7.12am. I was there, all the expectant
participants were there. Mother and daughter were fine, and sleepy,
and as I had control of the others, and it was sleepy time in the
wards, we left. It had been discussed about going to South Melbourne
football ground, and No.1 was dressed for it, denim shorts and a South
Melbourne jumper, modified, taken in, darted, and there was supposed
to be a hootenanny there, my ill-chosen words. Her teacher is married
to a Swan man who lately has been playing for Geelong. Good Lord.

 

We didn’t go there.

 

When you left the hospital you can hear the course commentator at
Moonee Valley, one block to the east and you can see the tops of the
grandstands, their higher now, and the next three trams turned that
way. I had to factor in age, gender, toilet, food, and of course I had
to be responsible. 

 

We went to the races, I paid and the entourage got ushered through and
we walked up the rising ground to end up at the side of the grandstand
in the shade. There were no playground implements then, unlike now,
but there was interesting things, there was a crowd really and I found
us a position in the shade, left the eldest with the youngest, and
took the others to ablute and food hunting. There is a fine selection
of children style food there, and I chose well, correctly then,
although my pick of a pluto pup was looked at askance. Another round
of visiting the toilets and it was almost the start of the 4th, which
we watched as it was 3yo fillies, some without form.

 

The next was the William Reid, the favourite was Analie, Higgins and
New Gleam, Midge Didham. I liked Wandle, a 2yo, a filly, in WFA
Group1, but her last run she was beaten by Tangent in a dead heat
second at the Valley when favourite in course record time and before
that she won, at the Valley, by 12 lengths at 25/1, a head kicking up
that straight. Pat Trotter took over from Brian Gilders in this race
and she was 33/1 when I had a $5 place. I backed All Shot straight out
who won in course record time and paid $6.40, and Wandle paid $5.90
for 3rd, she was $6 place with the books. Tauto came second. Funny
that I stay out of 3yo races yet back a 2yo filly in a WFA against all
age and sex. Her performance that race nearly selected my runner in
the last, more on that soon.

 

We did a stable tour and patted a few, including Immortal Time, missed
a race, and got back with ice creams just as they were warming up. I
was being responsible and supervising when told by the eldest that I
should back ‘that horse’ (immortal Time) because it had a plaited
mane. So I did, my $5 plunge on it and Venture On, for a place, both
ridden by apprentices, Robert Heffernan was one. Venture On won at 8/1
by 5 len and Immortal Time was second ($19.40) – wish you could bottle
it.

 

When I backed those two, I also had Tangent for a win in the last and,
further, while reading and being the Dad, found Sans Peur (Heffernan)
solely off his ride in the previous, and some form, and we all went to
back it. They went 1st and third ($6.00 and $6.00) so I was rapt,
you’d think and you would be right. It was hot late in the day, and it
was after 5.00pm, visiting hours down the road. We bought flowers from
the cart vendor, chocolates. 

 

There may be a certain amount of narcissism when the co-author takes
his kids out, they are handsome, I am tall, so there is a little of
either in each. There were smiles and comments from a wide spectrum of
unknowns this day, the first in a new life.

 

New Mum was tired, hungry, and nursing when we got there but said it
sounds like we had a good day. We did. Don’t worry, I didn’t lose any,
made a bit, acted responsibly. We had a café meal, not fish and chips
after that lunch, meatballs and spaghetti and a tram ride for an hour
when it was very late for some. They said it was a good day, and can
we do it tomorrow, I wish we could.

 

All Shot won more after that ending with a 6th in the Blamey Stakes.
Wandle ran 1.75 lengths 4th in Oakleigh Plate. Tangent ran distanced
in the Lightning Stakes and also the Oakleigh Plate

 

To me there seemed to be more journeymen runners then, they win, but
they need everything to go right, Mulligatawny, Wakiti Creek,
Irlandais. Now, with everyday racing this is not so apparent.

 

Cheers

 

Tony

Subject not to be confused with a record of the same name



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