Merrie's Page

07/02/2019

08/10/2018

Katy Sullivan photographed at Mareeba sprint races on 28/7/18.
This daughter of Sullivan's Run and out of Eyes Right by Winning Deck, won both Open and the AQHA Cup at this meeting. Shown here with owner/trainer, Paul Edwards, after her first run, this young mare has had five starts for 4 wins so far. Have been unable to find anything official regarding this meeting - understand that another of Allan Sullivan's breed won the Maiden by 4 lengths for Paul Edwards. Hoping that someone who reads this might be able to point us in the direction of more information on this meeting, which is one of a series under the sponsorship of the AQHA.

08/10/2018

Before we move on from Dorrie Brown and her discussion it has occurred to me to mention how historic her bloodlines are. Three of her four grandparents were foaled in the 1960s - more than 50 years ago - Go Far Bar Bob AAAT (1965), Femme Fatale AAA (1964), Jet Master AAA (1967). Her other grandparent, Willomurra In Flight AAA was foaled in 1978. Nothing too modern about Dorrie but that does not stop her line doing stuff. I would love to try her for once with one of the new imports, but given her circumstances that will not happen.

08/10/2018

This is Lorelei, dam of Dorrie Brown (and Puff n Stuff and Bob n Stuff). She was a stout, big b***d mare by Go Far Bar Bob from a Warning Flag/Jet Master mare. Dorrie's foal has solid bone from both sides of his family

08/10/2018

30/9/18 - Dorrie Brown foaled a chestnut c**t by Winning Deck this morning. It is very large - a great relief to have him safely on the ground.

08/10/2018

27/9/18 and Dorrie Brown still in one piece. She is seen here visiting with Winning Deck who is the sire of her expected foal. She spends a lot of the day standing with him. Three year old filly, Let Me Dance, is on the right poking her nose into things.

08/10/2018

From Merries Profile

A great photograph - Bill Kerr and his great sprinter, Finnigan AAA (Jet Master x Chambery TB) after Finnigan won the Jubilee Sprint in the presence of Queen Elizabeth at the Willomurra track 1977. You can read all about this in Karen Thrun's book "Legends". One of my all time favorite photographs because of the expression on the faces of both Bill and Finnigan. Finnigan remains one of my favorite horses and he was a major influence in us selecting Winning Deck as a sire, 16 years ago - a decision we have never regretted.

08/10/2018

From merries profile

I wanted to include this photograph in the comments made by Robert Rehn under the photograph of Bill Ker and Finnigan but for some reason it consistently refused to let itself be put there. Robert Rehn on Fantale AA pushing Finnigan AAA, ridden by Philip Oates, to the limit. These two were by Jet Master and out of Thoroughbred mares - they were fast, consistent and determined.

08/10/2018

From merries profile

Another photograph that refuses to come through on the Finnigan discussion. This is another jockey who rode for Willomurra for several seasons - Andy Read. Andy was a very muscular and powerful man but managed to make himself really small and to ride low and still. Here riding In Flight when she gained her AAA rating. Also shown riding Warning Bird AA, both daughters of Warning Flag. Need Sam to fix these photographs us.

11/06/2018

AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE RACING INDUSTRY NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Allan Murnane and the Victorian Quarter Horse Racing Association laid their plans well and seventy five sprint horse enthusiasts were lured to the First Australian Quarter Horse Racing Industry National Conference on 27th and 28th March 2008 at the beautiful Glenormiston Agricultural College in south western Victoria. It was truly an affair to remember
People came from all over, attracted by the opportunity to share their passion for Quarter Horse Racing and perhaps forge a workable plan for its continued growth in Australia. Five members of the American Quarter Horse Racing Association were present, four of whom had a long involvement in the development of recognised Quarter Horse racing in Brazil and Mexico. The knowledge and experience of these men, together with their ability to communicate and their understanding of the Australian scene, were major factors in the unique success of the Conference.
Queenslanders were there in force as well as representatives from NSW, Victoria, SA and one lone West Australian.

The Delegates

An extraordinary mix of people gathered at Glenormiston. There were representatives from the Victorian Quarter Horse racing scene – many of whom had obstinately continued to run horses when racing was at its lowest ebb. There were ex TB men seeking an outlet for their skills following the closure of many country TB tracks. Present also were newcomers, excited at the prospect of being in on the ground floor of an emerging industry. Then there were those who had been around a long time, cynical and battle scarred from years of fighting for the right to race their horses. Others made the effort to be present with no expectation that this would be a worthwhile exercise or any different from the disappointments of the past. What they encountered surpassed all expectations.

It was a congregation of the old and the new and those in between -

- From Herberton in far north Queensland came David McNamara, not long in the industry and with enthusiasm enough for three. He has the SA stallion Winning Deck on lease for the season for his band of well bred sprint mares. –
- The legendary Ian Rosnow, no longer a young man, fired up his wife’s 18 year old Commodore on the Darling Downs, and drove 22 hours to Glenormiston.
- Queenslander Brett Abraham was present and spoke with passion during question time about the industry that has been so important to him
Rodeo competitors Don and Tui Gordon (Tui is the current NRA All Round Cowgirl) came down from Gympie. They lease Rob McLay’s stallion Double Dozen.
- Rob McLay, a Gympie man now based mostly in California, made it over for the Conference. He is a member of the Teller Cartell syndicate and has two fillies at the Lazy E in Oklahoma preparing to race in the USA next year.
- Greg Douglas came out of seclusion for this historic occasion – his running bred horses are scattered throughout NSW following years of drought.
- Greg Hewish, the last owner of the great racemare Scandal, was there
- Bill Ward, an ex TB trainer from Casino traveled down with Des McDade and vet Ross Brown of Kyogle.
- Des McDade, a longtime sprint horse man, betook himself on a fact finding mission three years ago and identified 3000 running bred horses throughout Queensland and NSW alone, 2500 of them tragically with no AQHA papers.
- From Queensland also came David and Michael Rollston of Esk who spoke of racing in their area.
- The Elliotts from SA made a rare public appearance. For decades they have with stood pressure to breed their running mares to stallions of non speed lines, using homebred and TB stallions instead.
- Victorian trainers Jack Coffey, Kate Murnane, Robyn Kelly, Carole Dunn, Graham Greaves, Adrian Ireland, Bill Robinson and Ian McKenzie made it their business to be there as did VQHRA racing stewards Gary Paton and Luke Brayshaw.
- From central NSW came Kevin and Julie Pont who stand the All Australian Futurity winner Currajon Caseys Luck A2-439 to their band of running bred mares.
- Tom Craig and Ali Davin drove down from Gympie. Tom has had some really good horses –and still has.
- Terry Chinner – leading trainer and dedicated racing man who for so long
- provided the only focal point of reference for the industry through his website.
Some of the staunchest supporters of the speed horse were unable to attend due to prior commitments
- Steve Hogno, who has endured for years in the hope that he would eventually be able to race his horses in Australia, was tied up with his work in New Guinea.
- Wayne Graham of Goulburn who has put in so much effort for racing was similarly tied to his work contracts. He stands R Special Illusion, an AAA racehorse by the mighty Special Effort and out of an Easy Dozen mare
- Francene Neundorf had to stay home for the impending birth of her child. She well understands the value of speed in performance horses. Her running bred stallion Panama Vaporific is highly regarded in the barrel racing arena.

The list could go on and the stories were many.

There were people present who, with no real incentive to do so, have stepped out and brought modern racing genetics from the USA to this country –

Allan Sullivan in 2004 imported the mares Shez Nobodys Darling Q-55164 and Scoot n Fly Q-55166 in foal to Stoli. These foaled down, then subsequently foaled to Brimmerton. The mares are currently back in foal to Brimmerton and Eyesa Special.
Jodie Vanstone is still on a high over her 2007 filly from Metexa Petaluga by the great Eyesa Special.
Max Hays from northern Victoria has Pacific Dozen in foal to Stoli – this 23 year old mare needed 5 trips to the AI Centre before she conceived - Max just kept taking her back!

- There were many others who could not get away but waited eagerly for reports from their friends who were present. The mobile phones ran hot during the breaks!

Some of the older ones present could not help but recall past warriors of the racing industry who are no longer with us - Noel Fennell of Willomurra, Len Ridsdale, Sandra Crampton, Neville Cockburn, John Mawhinny. The list is long of those who gave so much and fought long and hard to support short distance racing in this country only to see it fall victim to the destructive forces of politics, ego and disunity. Without exception these former stalwarts of the industry would have rejoiced in this gathering.
-

The Presentations

Lawyer Tom Lindsay, coerced by Allan Murnane to forgo two days at his office, undertook the duties of MC for the Conference. In common with Corangamite Shire Councillor Steve Cu***ng and South West Tafe CEO Joe Piper who delivered the official welcome and opening addresses he considered this a sufficiently important occasion to give up his time.
These men made it clear that they are aware of the economic value of the overall horse industry to the South West and also let it be known that they regard Quarter Horse racing as an emerging industry whose success will only benefit their area.

Allan Murnane, president of VRQHA, was the moving force behind this conference. In his introduction Allan exhorted the delegates to forget the troubles of the past and to focus, instead, on the future. He asked all to consider carefully before anything was said and to leave the word NO out of the equation. Allan realized that most people present were aware of the massive problems facing us but asked that we concentrate on solutions. As a sideline, in reply to someone who commented that “this conference must have been months in the making”, he replied, “You’re wrong, it’s been 50 years in the making”.
Allan finished his address with the following words – “As I look around I see wisdom, experience and passion in this room –LETS TAKE IT FOR A WALK”. These words pretty much set the tone of a conference which turned out to be exceptional for a spirit of co-operation and unity that never once faltered.

Allan then introduced the International visitors and handed the microphone over to them.
These five men, leaders in the Quarter Horse racing business in the USA, quickly allayed any doubts as to their attitude toward the industry in this country. It was their opinion that the situation in Australia is already ahead of what they had to work with in Mexico and Brazil when the AQHRA first moved in there. Brazil, after 20 years, is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international racing scene with their top horses now competitive in the USA. The best Mexican horses are also reaching that standard.
Many top racing genetics have found their way into South America and these men spelled out a number of ways that Australian breeders could have this same advantage.

The first International speaker was Trey Buck, Executive Director for the AmQH Racing Association. His opening statement as he looked around the hall -“I see in front of me a band of people who for many years have kept the faith without much reason to do so” struck a chord deep within the hearts of many of those present who have hung in there with their running bred horses for so long. Trey spoke of the growth of QH racing in Mexico and Brazil and the part the American Quarter Horse Association plays and drew parallels with what could happen in Australia.

He was followed by Butch Wise of the Lazy E ranch, an AQHA Director from Oklahoma and a member of the AQHA Stud Book Committee. Butch was the prime mover in getting the international delegation here. In his overview of the Racing industry in USA Butch assured us that they have had to deal with many of the problems that we will encounter and indeed they are still wrestling with some of them. He made it very clear that they know where we are coming from and what lies ahead of us.
Some listeners found it very encouraging to know that, although Quarter Horse Racing is a multi million dollar industry in USA, there is still a solid base of racehorse men who are running for purses not much more than we have in Australia at this time. As Butch said “the USA is not the promised land, you know. There are those who are doing it hard, but they do have something big to aim for.” He observed that it seemed to him that the future of QH racing in this country rested on the shoulders of those present.

Ben Hudson, editor and owner of Track Magazine and an AQHA Director from Texas as well as a previous member of the AQHA Racing Council, was the next speaker. He recalled some of the great running horses that had come to Australia in the past. He was encouraged by the number of people present and the extraordinary enthusiasm that was so obvious. He gave another overview of the development of racing in the USA remarking that the level of racing in Australia was similar to that he experienced as a young man growing up in Texas. He also elaborated on the situation in Brazil and Mexico and drew comparisons between those situations and Australia.

Vince Genco spoke next. Another AmQHA Director he is the owner of Pacific Airlift, an international horse transport company. Vince has been heavily involved in the development of Quarter Horse racing and breeding industries in Mexico and Brazil and spoke at length on these and on the current situation of racing in both those countries. In his opinion racing in these two countries has already reached a level that he never thought to see in his lifetime. He assured us that Mexico and Brazil started with a lot less than we have even now in Australia. Vince said that we had a real big advantage in that we spoke English, no need for interpreters! Together with Butch Wise he spoke about the ways in which the breeding industries were improved in Brazil and Mexico. They put forth a number of ideas in which the same could happen in Australia. These were keenly discussed.

The senior member of the international delegation was John Andreini a leading owner and breeder from California, an AQHA Director from California and a current member of the Californian Horse racing Board. In his gracious and quietly spoken manner he urged that we put our personal feelings aside as we strive toward the common goal of establishing Quarter Horse racing throughout this country. He reminded us that we might not personally like some of the people with whom we will have to work. However, that should not be a consideration He suggested that we just take on board whatever talents they can offer, so long as it furthers the cause of racing our horses, and overlook anything else. John Andreini then spoke of the problems of disunity throughout the entire horse industry and stressed the need for total cohesion before any government approaches are even considered.
This point was later reinforced by Lindsay Ferguson, the Regional Development Officer for the State Government of Victoria. In the strongest terms he advised that the industry present a united front whenever dealing at a government level.

The American delegation was then available for comment and discussion and many took opprtunity of this invitation

Other speakers during the conference were Robyn Kelly of VRQHA, Janine Leichsenring from Performance Horse Magazine, Andrew Deacon of IQHA, Brooke Charteris from Kentucky Equine Research and American Christopher Kotulak TVG Anchorman who gave us an insight into racing on TV through the eyes of 30 million racing fans in the USA.

One of the highlights of the conference came about on the second day when the segment entitled COMMUNITY RACING – THREE CASE STUDIES was scheduled.
In this section, Margaret O’Keefe of Birchip, Graeme Brumley of Caramut and John Maher of Camperdown, in straight forward language, laid out what their committees had gone through to make Quarter Horse racing possible in their communities. All three presentations were outstanding and listeners surely felt an enormous admiration for the achievements of these lionhearted people.

There were numerous opportunities throughout the proceedings for those present to question the speakers, to have their say and air their thoughts. This privilege was well used and an unprecedented spirit of co-operation and unity prevailed.
Throughout the entire two days a sobering thought came from some who have been around for a long time and been through so much. It was the realization that this could be our best, and perhaps last opportunity to kick things along and we had better get it right this time!





The Outcome

The Conference ended with an open forum followed by the creation of an Australian Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Advisory Board. It was the general agreement that this outstanding talkfest was neither the time nor the place to lay down binding decisions that could affect the long term viability and growth of racing in Australia. So much had been discussed and so many ideas taken in that it seemed rash to make any hasty decisions that might have to be overturned down the track.
The Board members, Brett Abraham and Jodie Vanstone from Queensland, Des McDade and Lee Armstrong from NSW, Allan Murnane and Pat Kelly of Victoria and Greg Douglas representing SA will meet in Brisbane on 18th May to initiate the move forward from the foundations that were laid at Glenormiston, or as Allan Murnane put it “begin to spread the disease”.

That’s it! There is a lot more to say but we have to stop somewhere.

Addendum of bits and pieces

An extraordinary thing happened on the first day of the conference. Ben Hudson and Track magazine generously pledged a substantial sum of money to help things along. This set a trend and before too long there was $20,000 promised from our overseas visitors.

So many people contributed to the success of this Conference and some were not immediately obvious –
Two young men, Callum Watson and Daniel Murnane took time off school to attend to the important task of ensuring that the IT systems ran smoothly.
Lindy Watson left her radio station for two days to attend to the administration side of things. She was another of Allan Murnane’s conscripts but seemed to bear him no ill will over this.
Darrren Brumley, the Residential and Catering Co-ordinator at Glenormiston, kept food and fluids flowing in an unobtrusive and seemingly effortless fashion.
Doug Pollard, dairy farmer, businessman and photographer, somehow found time to be ever present with his camera. Although we are not Doug’s promotion officer it would be mean-spirited not to give out his number for anyone interested in some of the great photographs he took – (03) 55921688
email [email protected]

18/07/2017

A few weeks ago there was a message on Ringers From the Top End from Bill Greenwood, looking for Barry Elliott. Now, Barry is generally happy not to be found but he made an exception for Bill and we made contact. Last week Bill had a quick work related trip to SA and he made time to swing by Booborowie and catch up with Barry. They had a tremendous visit with stories flying thick and fast between NT, Northern SA and Arizona. In the conversation Bill casually mentioned he had an old photograph somewhere of his grandfather, taken around 1909 in the ARkaroola area. He was about 5 years old and had the task of leading pack camels in to pick up stores. I urged Bill to locate it if he could. Here is this amazing photograph - I don't know what to say about it, it will have to speak for itself. Bill might fill us in a little more if he can. Several other fascinating photographs arrived at the same time and will post them later today, on Bill's behalf.

29/05/2017

Felt the need to lift my mind from all the sleazy things happening in the world and the fact that the poor old planet is pretty much in the hands incompetent and greedy folk. Here we have J. Leonard Neal and Roy Dickerson photographed in the corrals at Cane Ranch in Northern Arizona 1940, their mules packed and ready to move out. We hear lots about cowboys of Texas and California. Not too much about the Arizona cowboy - they were a breed of their own, unique in their toughness and competence and ability to get the job done, frequently under the most appalling conditions. These two legendary cowboys were part of a crew which successfully swam 1400 starving cattle off the Utah ranges across the deep and swiftly flowing Colorado River in 1935.at Pierce's Ferry - now covered by Lake Mead. It was quite an operation given the treacherous water and the terrible condition of the cattle which was a mixed herd with mostly cows and baby calves. Leonard Neal headed the operation and as it has been described "..sitting on his horse, looking at the pathetic, hollow-flanked beasts lowing softly at him in utter bovine misery, Leonard wondered how he was to ever get them to the Hualapai Valley, even had it been the best of conditions". In the end, the crossing was achieved without the loss of a single animal. It amazed those present that in all the uproar and activity once the cattle started stringing into the water, those skinny old rangeland cows somehow manouevered themselves so that their little calves were on the upstream side so the force of the water pressed the calf against her side instead of being washed downstream. Grace Neal, who was present there, reckoned it just looked like each cow had suddcenly sprouted a little white head on her flank.

20/03/2017

More From Merrie .. enjoy from Tracy

Good morning Terry,
Over the years we have discussed many things over the phone, but as it is 3 am I thought I better write to you instead of telephoning!!
Watching Miracles of Life scoot home at Caulfield as she won the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes I was struck by a certain similarity to the way in which Black Caviar propels herself during a race. Got up early this morning to check out a couple of things and was intrigued by the fact that Miracles of Life carries two crosses of the mare Easy Date. Easy Date also appears in Black Caviars background as the dam of Snippets. While the two mares share a number of common ancestors and both have lots of great modern day blood, the appearance of Easy Date caused me to ponder on a very interesting fact. Had Mrs E.T. Hobson not migrated to Australia in 1970 with her 30 horses, then Australia would not have had Black Caviar or Miracles of Light, and indeed many, many other top line horses.
One of Betty Hobsons horses was an unraced mare, Scamper Away TB, by Hitting Away from an Eight Thirty mare (Eight Thirty was very influential in racing Quarter horse pedigrees). Through her daughter Scampering, Scamper Away became the grand dam of Easy Date (by Grand Chaudiere, the first Northern Dancer horse to come to Australia). Easy Date was the dam of Snippets and also the grand dam of Not A Single Doubt, sire of Miracles of Life. Had Scamper Away not come to Australia there would have been no Easy Date, no Snippets, no Black Caviar, no Not A Single Doubt, no Miracles of Life, and no a lot of other good horses.
Interesting the influence that one very knowledgeable but very low profile breeder can have.
However, Easy Date is only part of the Betty Hobson influence on the horse population of Australia. Included among Betty’s imports was a Quarter Horse mare Femme Fatale AAA by the TB stallion Top Deck. This quality mare proved to be a sterling producer of speed and all round athletic ability. 25 years after her death Femme Fatale remains a sought after listing in a pedigree, specially on the bottom line. As you know, I lusted after this mare for years until I was finally able to get her as a 19 year old unreliable breeder, but that is entirely another matter.
The story does not end here! Betty also imported the magnificent Appaloosa stallion, Ledge Deck, the only Appaloosa ever sired by Top Deck TB. Ledge Deck had won the 1969 Appaloosa World Wide Futurity and the 1970 World Wide Derby. Although perhaps ahead of his time in this country Ledge Deck did much to improve the Appaloosa before being repatriated to USA
While it is interesting to reflect on the influence of some of the horses Betty Hobson brought to this country, we also need to acknowledge the amazing influence of a horse she did NOT bring to Australia. I refer to Rocket Wrangler. This c**t by Rocket Bar TB and from Go Galla Go by Go Man Go, was initially included in Betty Hobson’s draft heading for this country. However, when Jack Reilly the AQHA classifier inspected the horses in USA prior to shipment he reckoned he could not classify the c**t if he came to Australia. Dick Fuchs is probably the only person still alive who may know the reason for this decision. Dick came out with Betty and her shipment as did Charlie and June Beard and their good stallion San Leo Joe.
Rocket Wrangler remained in USA. He was sold and went on to win the 1970 All American Futurity as well as the Rainbow Futurity. However, these achievements were eclipsed by the fact that he sired the mighty Dash for Cash, a stallion whose influence on the modern running horse has been phenomenal.
So, had Betty Hobson indeed brought Rocket Wrangler to Australia the Quarter Horse industry would have had no Dash for Cash. I guess some other line would have gone to the top of the pile. Little bit similar to the situation had Doc Bar, Jewels Leo Bars and King P234 been super successful on the racetrack – the cow horse industry might not have got them and some other lines would be doing their job.
There is so much more I could write on this subject but have to get outside and feed critters.
Be in touch, Merrie Elliott

18/03/2017

Congratulations to Dale Manson on his Q-86 article in last month’s Quill. He somehow managed to compress a massive undertaking into such a small area that reading it left me somewhat breathless.
The early days of the Quarter Horse Association of South Australia were notable for the entrepreneurial spirit that prevailed. On several occasions the association really stepped out with very ambitious productions. It just went ahead in faith that if everyone pulled together it would all happen. Sometimes scary, but it always seemed to pan out, and QHASA emerged intact at the end of it.
Once the idea for Q-86 began to germinate it was a full on deal that consumed the committee’s lives for many months. Conscription was the name of the game for this was to be a big one and we could not afford to wait politely for volunteers. Whoever had contacts was expected to use them, and if you were short on contacts then something else was found for you to do. Moaners and groaners were cast aside for there was no time or energy to waste with negative input.
As Dale mentioned, we had arranged a major publicity undertaking that involved collecting the American judge Jerry Kaufman and his wife Amanda at Adelaide Airport in a horse drawn carriage. It was planned to drive down Burbridge Road, hopefully to be seen by lots of people, and with a final flourish come charging into the arena in the Wayville Motor Pavillion. We had organized plenty of TV exposure for this whole undertaking. Although an unexpected murder or something took some of our planned cameras away at the last minute we did not do too badly.
The stunt actually worked out a bit differently to how we had planned and, after a lifetime littered with all sorts of embarrassments, the incident I am about to relate would still have to be near the top of my pile of happenings that are memorable for all the wrong reasons.
On the day in question two hackney horses and a horsedrawn carriage, as well as a coachman and his offsider (whose responsibility it was to leap out and hold the horses heads whenever they stopped), were delivered by truck to the Adelaide Airport. The truck unloaded its cargo, then disappeared.
The carriage was parked in front of the Airport terminal (good PR, so far) and in due course the Kaufmans and I embarked and off we went, leaving Dale to organise the luggage and follow in his car.
As late as 1986 the entrance to the Adelaide Airport was still protected by a very large cattle grid. This important fact had been overlooked in the multiplicity of loose ends being finally pulled together in the final days leading up to Q-86. The hackneys brought it to our attention when they came to a sudden stop (fortunately!!). Dale turned up at that point and the problem was discussed.
Mobile phones were not then in use so we had no way to send out an SOS. Down the fenceline from the entrance was a small gate just wide enough to get a horse through with a bit of caution but definitely not wide enough for a team and a carriage. In the absence of other options the decision was made to unhook the horses, lead them individually through the gate, push the landau across the cattle grid and then hook up again on the other side.
This seemed a pretty simple solution but was complicated by the fact that while these hackneys were bombproof as long as they had their cart behind them they became intensely insecure without it and their behaviour dramatically deteriorated. Another nuisance was the fact that I was dressed in a fashion totally inappropriate for this drama and could only remain uselessly in the carriage while Amanda Kaufman (a sensibly clad and very competent horsewoman) assisted the coachman and his offsider to get the hysterical, plunging Hackneys (with all their harness still attached) through the gate, then negotiate the oncoming vehicles to cross the road onto a large traffic island that separated the in and out Airport lanes. Meanwhile Jerry Kaufman and Dale Manson pushed and pulled me in my carriage across the grid and up onto the traffic island. The situation was quite scary for by now it was about 4.30 in the afternoon. The traffic was hotting up and the drama at the entrance to the Adelaide Airport was pretty much beyond the understanding of city drivers.
With extreme difficulty the horses were manouevered into position and hooked up to the vehicle. In the shennanigans one of the trace lines snapped. The whole situation on the traffic island deteriorated into survival mode while Dale dodged in and out of traffic to get to his car, which was parked some distance away, and bring back a tow rope. This was attached to the horse and carriage – everything subsided and the outfit trotted off down Burbridge Road headed for Wayville showgrounds, unaware that worse was yet to come.
By the time we approached the intersection of Anzac Highway and Greenhill Road we were right in the midst of peak hour traffic. We lined up in the middle lane waiting for the traffic lights. Although surrounded by massive semis throbbing and hissing away, those weird hackneys did not so much as flick an ear in this situation.
We crept forward for several traffic light changes. Eventually it became obvious that with luck we could be in the next lot of traffic to cross Anzac Highway. The coachman was not going to miss this opportunity. As the traffic started to move he gunned his horsepower, temporarily startling the nearside hackney. The horse lunged forward and in the process momentarily lost his footing for he had been standing on a large, shiny steel manhole cover. He recovered pretty quickly but the lurch had been too much for his collar – it fell off!
With the build up of traffic all around us there was NOTHING to do except keep going. The coachman kept his cool as did the hackneys and the Kaufmans – not too sure about me but I at least kept my mouth shut.
We crossed over Anzac Highway onto Greenhill Road where the driver, with considerable effort, eased the outfit across to the left hand lane and up over the footpath before bringing it to a halt in the parklands. His offsider leapt out and grabbed the Hackneys heads and they stood politely. While the situation was being assessed Dale sped up in his car. The vehicle came to a sliding stop, he jumped out, dived around to the boot and reappeared brandishing a collar. “I found this on the road” he said “I reckoned there was only one place it could have come from”.
The collar was re-attached with pieces of string and whatever. The driver and his offsider took their seats, the Kaufmans piled back into the carriage and off we went again. Within a few minutes we had made it to Wayville and the Hackneys charged into the arena at their most impressive high-actioned trot as though all was well with the world.
This was actually a ghastly experience but one of those things that once it started you had to see it through if at all possible. The Kaufmans, being ranchers and true westerners, had a good understanding of stuff ups and they just went with the flow. By neither word nor action did this gracious couple ever indicate if they feared they were at the mercy of a bunch of incompetent lunatics. We still receive an annual letter from them! The coachman and his offsider were amazing and their cool saw us though occasions that seemed destined to end in disaster. It later transpired that they were accustomed to all sorts of problems and gear breakages. Not long after this the coaching company for which they worked ceased operations. Something to do with insurance concerns I believe.
Those funny little Hackneys – well, they were an education. Nothing bothered them, except the absence of their carriage. Dale, of course, as was ever his way, did what was needed to get the job done. As for me, I could only sit helplessly, squirming with embarrassment and trying to act as though nothing was wrong. I believe that as I am finally falling off my perch the memory of this incident will be one of the last things that flashes though my mind.
If any QHASA member has to collect a judge and reckons that things are not working out too well, just remember this incident and take heart!