Lonhro Legend Will Live Forever But Officials Weren't So Flash

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday December 31, 2004

MAX PRESNELL

Again, this year was the year of the horse. Under the category of "People Who Mattered" in Time magazine was Smarty Jones.

"Yes he's a horse," the magazine said. "But don't hold that against him. His run at the Triple Crown was still the year's most captivating race (aside from that one for the White House)."

Others listed included US presidential candidate John Kerry, Iraq's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi, Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Perhaps Lonhro meant as much to Australia, if not the world, and his effort in winning the Australian Cup had an edge on the clash between John Howard and Mark Latham. Certainly he rated top in a "best of 2004" poll run by the internet site, Racenet. Makybe Diva, the Melbourne Cup heroine, was an honourable runner-up.

"Lonhro's Aussie Cup win was one of the truly great moments of the Australian turf," one contributor wrote.

The Australian racing industry, though, has generally not been as well served by administrators as the horses, though the Victoria Racing Club continues to generate a great Melbourne Cup carnival and the Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club have their moments.

"The best day ever was Golden Slipper day but not for the Slipper," said another email. "When Octagonal was brought along the parade area the cheers started and by the time he was in the parade ring the roar was deafening.

"He stood there and looked at the crowd and just took it all in. What a wonderful horse. Then Lonhro was brought in and to see the father and son together was such an experience.

"When Lonhro won [the George Ryder] the emotion was overpowering and he was cheered the last couple of furlongs. Darren Beadman brought him back to an ovation I have never heard before. I will never forget the day as long as I live."

Thus the Sydney Turf Club got a tick for the best, but surely the debacle of Monday, a holiday, must rate with the worst performances. Forgive me for what may seem an overreaction but going back to one of the great STC chairmen, Clyde Kennedy, the club has been critical about the advantage the AJC had with holiday racing dates. Given its first attempt on Monday, the club catered for a miserable 4000 and got double that.

It was programmed like just another midweek, without a major event or prizemoney of significance, and little sense of occasion. Michael Kenny, the STC chief executive, has already held his arm up to be the fall guy and, while not being in favour of a public flogging in this instance, the STC seems obsessed with getting $100,000 prizemoney for every Saturday race rather than the bread-and-butter or coffee (still probably the worst to come out of an espresso machine) issues. Find something appealing about Canterbury midweeks?

Trifling possibly, but the STC race book, produced on newsprint unworthy of an outback dunny, has been increased in price to $5.

"It's good to see racecourse crowds starting to build," said another email. "The industry must be marketed properly as it has been neglected for many years. Race clubs are finally realising that they must diversify income streams to be profitable."

Obviously the STC going into real estate at Canterbury could come into this area. Warwick Farm is most likely to be retained as a training centre.

Both are being allowed to die of shame through lack of facilities, yet, despite serving a smaller population, Broadmeadow last Sunday was a great success, and an example of how young people are going to the races, particularly around Christmas, when racing was once popular in Sydney but allowed to wilt.

"We had 20,000 on Boxing Day, 18,000 between 18 and 25, and 10,000 of those were good sorts," Peter Noud, the NJC racing manager, reported. "To put it in perspective only 2000 race books were sold but the occasion has become a great reunion [rather than a race] day for Newcastle.

"It's been steadily growing. About 14,000 last year, going over the last 12 years, bigger this year because it was held on a Sunday.

"Last year we sold 200 pre-sold tickets, this year 4000 because of a bit of a scare that we may have had to close the gates. Plenty wanted to make sure they got in.

"The grog sales were massive. Bookies on the rails didn't hold huge money, but had a fair day. You walked into the members stand but while the members may have stayed away, their sons, daughters and grandchildren were there.

"Maybe some congestion was experienced and we had to shut the gates after consultation with the police but we are confident more will come back than we will lose.

"Because of Boxing Day we'll do better throughout the year, too, with big business in marquees, popular with a young crowd. [At] some tracks the [old] age of the crowd is depressing. But our meeting has now become a fabric of the town.

"One of the radio stations here broadcasts that 'Newcastle is a day out at Merewether Beach, sitting on the hill watching the Knights go around or a day out with the girls at Broadmeadow'."

Maybe Broadmeadow on Boxing day is too social for the regulars, steeped in the tradition of the punt and scent of horse manure, but then the Melbourne Cup attracts a similar demographic and so, too, the Randwick autumn carnival.

However, the negatives of racing are still abundant.

"The worst event of the year in racing was the Sky Channel debacle [no Sydney racing telecast]," wrote another contributor. "The racing industry can't afford to be fragmented. It's like a poker game - you either go all-in or you pass and wait for a better opportunity."

Some others pushed old critical lines: "Far too much quantity on TAB and too little quality" ... "some very dodgy rides in Sydney and Brisbane" ... "the Randwick course proper" ... "too many small fields and short prices in Sydney" ... "racehorse owners don't have a big enough say in top stables" ... "Federal Government not outlawing Betfair and corporate bookmakers; they will ruin racing" ... "owners paying to watch their horses run".

While Lonhro produced the best memory he also figured prominently in the worst: when beaten in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Like Smarty Jones he went down in his last race. In the end it was still a very good year - but mainly due to the black flash.

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

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