A TRIBUTE A TRIBUTE

racing, and it happens weekly THE CHAMPION: good old roll, and I gave him a long Phar Lap with strapper at all levels of the sport— Tommy Woodcock (right) walk for about an hour and a half.’ that moment when the jockey and owner David Davis. ‘Should have given him a bit acknowledges the horse and PHOTO VRC COLLECTION of work, you know.’ asks all of us to do the same, I said: ‘Aw yeah.’ to applaud the animal who has He said: ‘He’s gonna run tomorrow.’ performed so courageously, ‘What?’ so beautifully and so willingly. ‘He’s running tomorrow, you know.’ Luke acknowledges the great ‘Aw gee.’ mare, just as Bossy did so well So anyway, Oaks day come with Makybe, and Fred with and I got him out to the races and Northerly, and Jimmy with he looked very well. He looked and Dermot beautiful. And, of course, with Vintage Crop, and the late, Oaks day with all the women great Roy Higgins did with Light all dressed up—when I was walking Fingers and Bart with . him up the enclosure, all the ladies They loved these great horses. they stood up and clapped and Love is a strong word, cheered him. This captivating tribute to the horse by host HAMISH McLACHLAN was the but Bart believes it, and he said as He was a real idol. highlight of the October launch of the Spring Racing Carnival and the racing.com much when describing the way he He walked around the enclosure, trained: “You really have to love the and he went out, and that was only a Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards at the Museum. horse and read its moods … horses mile race after running two miles on are always sending you messages, the Tuesday, but he won quite easy. and you have to learn their language So anyhow, that was on the have been asked to pay They, in simplest terms, … you need to have empathy.” THE SPEECH: tribute to the horse. Thursday and Mr. Telford came Hamish McLachlan, are just like people. As the dim son of a sheep in a replica of a stewards’ That’s easy. I really do love In the racing world, every up on the Friday, and he said: tower at the museum, pays I farmer, I’ve chosen to steal the horses, everything about them. year, at every carnival across the ‘How is he?’ tribute to the horse. prose of the greatest of them all, Watch what a 500kg animal world, great horses emerge that ‘Oh he’s good, not bad, he had PHOTO SDP Shakespeare, who brought the does with a child on its back— make great racing even greater. horse to life with simple, a roll. He didn’t dance and buck they will walk quietly and Think through the past 20 years, yet glorious words. in the roll like he did on Wednesday safely, or just stand still, here in Melbourne alone. morning.’ Shakespeare loved the He won and confirmed his place in the folklore or trot, or jump, or swim … There was Vintage Crop, who ‘You didn’t work him?’ horse, and many wonderful of this wonderful sport. He was indeed a horse, all because the 12-year-old turned this carnival on its head. ‘No, gave him a walk, that’s all.’ descriptions of this great animal and all others you may call beasts. asks them to. Nobody can make Forever. Opened it to the world. are peppered throughout ‘He’s running tomorrow.’ HAMISH MCLACHLAN ON PHAR LAP’S FOUR WINS IN CUP WEEK IN 1930 a child smile like a horse can. To Saintly, who changed the his work, but none is more ‘What!’ What kindness! way Bart trained for the Cup. evocative than those he gave ‘He’s running tomorrow.’ They do as they are asked, Imagine a horse being able to do to the heir to the throne of When I am with horse, who came before and after. ‘Aw no.’ when they could do as they that! Change the way Bart trains, France in Henry V. He wrote: I am soothed, I am calm, Just as we all do. ‘Yes, we’re gonna run him wanted to, but they don’t. now that’s a story in itself. When I bestride him, I soar; I have no cares. I hope the I hope I can do Tommy again tomorrow.’ They love to please, to be a To Makybe Diva, who turned I am a hawk horse is the same with me. justice. Tommy said: And ’course that was to be a part of one of humanity’s Lee Freedman into a poet, He trots the air. Tommy Woodcock knew “I loved the horse that much, mile an’ a half on the Saturday. most enduring partnership. after the great mare had won The earth sings when he touches it; these feelings better than I wouldn’t care a dash as long as And anyhow, up we come up on I love everything about her third Cup in a row: “Go find He is pure air and fire; most. Shakespeare didn’t see I got a pair of boots and a shirt. the Saturday and ’course everybody’s the horse. Watch closely the smallest child on this course and and the dull elements of earth Phar Lap, but Woodcock did, He used to rub against me and idol he was, everybody stood up the next time a horse parades there will be the only example of and water never appear in him, and Tommy was a true poet, wear out a shirt pretty often and and clapped and cheered him …” in front of you—really watch— a person who will live long enough but only in patient stillness a man whose raw words had I used to wear a pair of boots out Phar Lap did what no horse and you will see much more to see that again,” said Lee. when his rider mounts him. the ability to take you inside every two weeks, just walking and will ever do again. He won than a betting proposition. And to Black Caviar. What He is indeed a horse, the heart and mind of Phar Lap. leading him, but that was for me his fourth race of the week, That eye, that walk, that Black Caviar did for this sport, and all others you may There’s something spiritual own enjoyment. and confirmed his place in the muscle, that subtle skin and the best marketers could only call beasts. about reciting Tommy’s words I’ll tell you what a great horse folklore of this wonderful sport. those pins of legs carrying half dream of. She was everyone’s For those of us who love about Phar Lap, here in this he was—he won the Melbourne He was indeed a horse, and all a tonne of power; every part horse. A mare cheered on like the horse—whether champion sanctuary (the museum where Stakes on the Saturday and then others you may call beasts. of the horse tells a story— fans do for their footy team. or hack—this is our love his hide stands). the on the Tuesday, you just need to look closely. The more I think about described. For me, it’s like being and then Mr. Telford came up on Woodcock’s words on Phar Lap are from Me & Phar Lap—The Consider a horse’s toughness Black Caviar, the more I am sure I am a lucky man. with Tommy, riding the words, the Wednesday and he asked me, remarkable life of Tommy Woodcock, and bravery and that great people fell in love with her quite I have ridden all my life, and do letting his bush poetry sing and ‘What did you do with him this as told to Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky heart. When a horse’s lungs are simply because she was a horse at leastRV_559_RACE_ST_C_I once a week still. And soar. Indeed, R - he 1loved 2014- Phar Lap, 09- morning?’ 15T14: 14: 25+10: 00(The Slattery Media Group, 2011) burning and their legs are tired that provided certainty when when I do, I am, indeed a hawk. as he loved all those horses, I said: ‘I rolled him, he had a The Racehorse of the Year Awards: PAGE 28 and they should be screaming the rest of the world couldn’t for someone to stop the guarantee a damn thing. madness, they don’t stop like Since her retirement Black they should—or could—they Caviar has been immortalised continue on bravely. by Racing Victoria as THE brand If only we could be like for racing. Look at her a horse, if only those famous on the racing.com logo—her ears words of that marvellous pricked, dominant in victory horseman George Hanlon were number 13, the 2011 BTC Cup WHERE RACING LIVES! true: Horses are only human. at Doomben, with Luke Nolen FEATURING FREE No two are the same. saluting the great mare. RACE REPLAYS With new form guides, free race replays, breaking news and video updates, dedicated owners’ And the more horses you get to For me, the image captures site, expert tips and more, race fans can find all they need at racing.com, where racing lives! know, the more interesting life is. one of the beautiful moments in

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