March 3, 2019
Back in the day, radio panels previewing upcoming racing would mention that a horse was a “street corner tip”.
Indeed, the galloper could have also been somewhat of a “smokey”.
The thoroughbred in question was not a stand-out favourite – it was one more likely to be whispered about as having shown something in private.
Of course, the word spread, much to the disappointment of the owners seeking a good price with the bookmakers.
The South Burnett Regional Council recently announced that a site in Drayton Street Nanango was to be named to honour the Green family’s long-lasting, multi-faceted contribution to the local community.
Presently, Barry and Mary Green and their son Andrew are supporters and promoters of the turf on a variety of fronts.
Barry is a long-serving Nanango Race Club committee member.
He called the card for the club’s reopening day in 1968 and made his mark as a leading trainer.
He’s also been associated with the endeavours of the South-East Queensland Country Racing Association. And the list goes on …
Mary is a quiet achiever in advancing the sport’s local history and tourism potential.
The old railway building at Lee Park racecourse has a wonderful collection of photographs and displays that are accessible on Nanango race days.
Currently, she has a keen interest in the Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails’ forthcoming release of ‘Racing In The Brisbane Valley: 1850-1940’, written by Elizabeth Delacy.
Andrew is the incumbent Nanango Race Club President and, along with his father, has played a role in encouraging community participation in the game by owners.
The strategy has produced success for The Larrikin Syndicate with two horses prepared and part-owned by Glenn Richardson, Nanango’s reigning premier trainer.
Firstly, the group picked up wins at Eidsvold and Burrandowan with the Zizou gelding Lucky Larrikin.
It has been significantly better with Avalanche Warning.
The Moshe mare’s last eight appearances, with a 2-2-2-3 form line, have earned a cheque on each occasion, and the five-year-old’s two most recent starts have banked $22,000, courtesy of provincial victories at Kilcoy and Nanango.
Green Family Place, with its undercover seating arrangement, is an ideal venue for exchanging street corner tips.
I can easily visualise Barry Green sharing his selections there, with digressions to encompass some mandatory yarns from the days of yore.
The acknowledgement of the Greens’ long-sustained input to the district together with the selection of a socially interactive spot is apt.
- Related article: Council Honours Nanango Family
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The Calendar
Meeting Reminders: Gympie (next Saturday, March 9), Nanango (Easter Saturday, April 20) and Wondai (Anzac Day).
The autumn in the south is reaching its climax in Melbourne and building up steam in Sydney.
Winx is expected to sport silk just twice more in the George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper Day (March 23) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of The Championships on April 13.
Flemington hosts the Newmarket-Australian Cup double next Saturday and the novel, inaugural All Star Mile seven days later.
Yes, the “street corner tips” were always to the fore as I can well remember them in the 1950s and early 60s when there was no tote betting operating in Queensland.
The “dyed in the wool punters” would seek out the registered bookmakers or SP operators as early as Wednesdays when weights and fields were displayed, particularly in Brisbane and forthcoming local Saturday meetings.
Now, of course, with the off-course betting agencies legalised (some six in total) fields are displayed on the website with prices as early as two days before so if you have the knowledge of these guarded tips, then you can take what is believed to be the better prices well before the weekend or even on mid-week meetings.