MANDURAH canals resident and harness racing caller extraordinaire John Hunt, who relinquished the reins to newly appointed oncourse caller Richard Bell, may have thought that the mammoth amount of accolades from all points of the country that have come his way since he announced his retirement in October were very humbling.
But at Gloucester Park last Friday night Western Australian Trotting Association president John Burt surprised Hunt by announcing him as the recipient of the James Brennan Award for 2008 for services above and beyond the call of duty to harness racing.
The meeting featured the $35,000 Mares Mile which was won by Spare Me, trained and driven by Brad Stampaliar.
Those privy to the presentation of the much coveted award to Hunt were left in no doubt how much the medal meant to the retiring race caller.
Hunt spoke eloquently and with a passion not often seen or heard by a race caller.
He spoke of his love of entertaining and of the romance, glory, intrigue and charm of the countless industry people and pacers who had helped him achieve an impossible dream, 32 years of employment that he embraced and loved.
On the same program at Gloucester Park, Morgan Woodley made his intentions known to all and sundry that a five week holiday sending the stewards postcards from Queensland and Sydney was not how he enjoyed participating in the world of the harness.
He brought home trotter Compressor for a well-timed run to keep up the six-year-old son of Sundon’s impressive strike rate for Waroona trainer Nigel Johns, his partner Debbie and her son Nathan, who owns the gelding.
Compressor loves to strike out in bold fashion for the nearest waterhole and is sure to be looking forward to the summer weather for some much loved wading among the crustaceans in the inlet.
At Narrogin on the same night Lucky Punch, trained and driven by Craig Goldfinch, travelled from go to whoa in front position in the $30,000 Narrogin Cup, defeating Franco the Man and No Blue Manna.
Lucky Punch has been off the racing scene due to injury for quite some time and it was a credit to the patient owners, the McFadden family and Goldfinch, that the seven-year-old was backing up from an impressive first-up win at Gloucester Park at a Monday meeting.
At Donaldson Park the following night all eyes were on last season’s outstanding juvenile James Matthew as he returned from a let up.
Although having to work hard early and three wide for a great deal of the race,
James Matthew, driven by Morgan Woodley, just did what he had to do to win, adding to his push for a visit to the eastern seaboard for a tilt at the Victorian Derby.
He will have two more starts before the final decision is made but failing flying east, the three-year-old owned by Ian and Hazel Brandon will be headed for the local sales races.
Capel trainer Greg Harper maintains a strike rate the envy of many with two drives and two wins on smart pacer Mr Yankee.
Not often in the spider these days, preferring to hand the reins to Kade Howson or Ryan Bell, Harper showed he still had what it takes even after two falls from horses he has been working in recent years that could have seen him give up the sport altogether.
Pinjarra twins Shane and Kim Young returned home after a successful day at Gloucester Park on Monday.
Shane drove DeeGee Norm for Sonia Zucchiatti to an impressive win and Kim drove Here for the Party for owners Garry and Leanne Elsdon to his second win in four starts.
Kim trains the six-year-old son of Iraklis for the Elsdons who were the previous owners of the Premier Hotel in Pinjarra.
The last of the pre-Christmas meetings at Pinjarra Paceway will be held next Monday.
With several exciting plans on the drawing board at long last for buildings that will herald a new era for pacing patrons at the very popular country venue, the ever growing list of members and regular patrons will be keen to speak to club president Ray Woodley while they watch with interest the eight races programmed for the day.
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