SPENDING three decades in the commentators’ box gave John Hunt a unique point view into the world of horse racing which no one else could share.
Fuelled by his affection for both horses and horse people, the Dudley Park resident’s experience gave him the expertise to write The View From The Clouds which focuses on a group of legendary champions.
“I really had a unique relationship with it all,” he said.
“My job was to try and capture the mood of it all.
“Ask anyone who heard me; I tried to sell the sizzle not the sausage rather than just tell them the stats.
“If you can do that you can cross demographics.”
Hunt said it was important for him to tell his story through horses such as Mount Eden, Baltic Eagle, Westburn Grant and Franco Ice, which showed the “triumph and tragedy, drama and pathos, passion, tears, fun, romance and humour” of racing in a time of change.
Throughout his career Hunt saw racing gain popularity and grow into what it is today.
“I saw a lot of things out of that window but one of the things which captured the tragedy and the triumph of racing was the summer of Frost and Ice,” he said.
“I’ve made a documentary about it as well and it was when Westburn Grant, who was trained by Vic Frost and Franco Ice came to Western Australia and there was this clash between the two.
“When Westburn Grant was coming to Perth, the Frosts’ son died on the family property so they left the horse here and went back to organise the funeral.
“When they were back east, Westburn Grant had his only unplaced race.
“The Frosts were talked into coming back and by then Westburn Grant was an outsider and Franco Ice was unbeaten.
“But Westburn Grant came up, against all odds and ended up beating Franco Ice.”
The View From The Clouds will be released on November 10.
A book launch and signing will be held on Saturday, November 15 from 9am-noon at Carona Books at the Mandurah Forum.
For more information go to johnhuntbooks.com