March 2, 2023
Saturday’s “Vale Jack Murray Burnett to the Beach Benchmark 55 Handicap” (1030m) at Gympie is a fitting tribute to the late patron and life member of Eidsvold Race Club.
The 94-year-old former breeder, trainer, owner and Eidsvold stalwart was an extremely well-known and respected character who relished attending programs around and beyond the Burnett.
Significantly, the perennially affable horseman was a regular racegoer at all 11 venues involved in this current series.
At Gympie’s two-day Australia Day weekend 50 years ago, Jack donated a trophy for the P. L. Murray Memorial Flying, a contest that honoured the many years that his father Percy spent preparing racehorses at that track.
The winner Special Rose was a half sister to Vallecula, one of Percy’s charges. The runner-up Valneo also sported Percy’s polish early in its career.
With the help of jockey George Spencer, Jack’s heroine Jamaica Princess scored twice that weekend. She was a prolific money spinner, chalking up 17 wins in a single racing year. Her progeny of nine named foals were born in the 1975-1985 period at Murray’s cherished Jamaica Park property.
It was at that establishment that Jack, as studmaster, helped shape the result of the 1978 Stradbroke Handicap.
Innisfree, owned by the Bundaberg teacher Bob Morris, was sent up there in 1977 to start a career in the breeding barn. The Rego Lad entire had collected a hat trick that included the Delaney Quality (now the BRC Kingsford Smith Cup). After firming to be a prime Stradbroke fancy, he weakened to run tenth.The large thoroughbred always had leg issues and it was doubtful he would return to the track.
However, Murray’s eagle equine eyes noticed a marked improvement over time.
Accordingly, he advised connections that he may well be able make a comeback. In short, the upshot was that he equalled the course record when he prevailed at 25/1 in Eagle Farm’s signature sprint for jockey Greg Hall and his Deagon trainer-father Ron. The brown horse was rewarded with a resumption of stud duties.
Murray’s sons both took up training. Bob is still a frequent visitor to the winner’s slot while Lyle gave it away 10 years ago. His final first placegetter was My Cracker at Monto in May 2013. He has had lengthy tenures as Eidsvold Race Club President and Chairman of the South-East Country Racing Association.
Jack’s grandsons Dale, Matthew, Christopher, Gary and Dallas all started with race day duties such as barrier attendants. Their turf roles have been diverse, ranging from training, running a horse transport business to strapping and ownership.
Matthew and Christopher will be over the moon if their horse Comments can capture the Gympie race dedicated in memory of their grandfather.
Bob will saddle up the lightly raced five-year-old that has not started since last at Mount Perry in November. Prior to that, the Rich Enuff gelding’s four previous tasks after moving on from Chris Munce’s operation had all been top four or better results.
Jack Murray, who was crowned 2020 Country Racing Club Person of the Year in recognition of his six decades of service to the regional industry, died suddenly on February 13. That was just two days after he was at the Nanango races.
Bob Murray’s Come Clean, a last start Bundaberg winner, went poorly in the last on the card.
Ironically, the galloper’s sire was called Spill The Beans. Jack, a dapper dresser, was decidedly old school when it comes to having a punt on a stable runner.It seems safe to say he would have passed that lesson on to his decendants.
The truth is that Jack’s ilk are a dying breed.
He maintained a very old custom at Eidsvold by religiously taking interested jockeys and some others up for afternoon tea late in the day.
Not only did he retain his passion for witnessing the action, he encouraged other folk (including strangers) to get to the course. If they followed Murray’s mantra and had a fraction of the fun that he had in his lifetime, they will be eternally grateful.
Condolences are extended to the Murray clan.
The funeral will take place at 10:00am on Friday, March 3, at the Eidsvold racetrack.
Afterwards, no doubt, the fraternity will be queueing up to exchange yarns about a remarkable figure.
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Nanango Sides Seek More Joy
Part owner Barry Goodwill, jockey Nicole Vuille and trainer Adam Briskey were entitled to be as pleased as punch when Invaness broke through at Lee Park last month.
The mare has drawn the outside gate in the heat of the Burnett to the Beach.
However, she has been placed at her two tries on the sand and sometimes sitting out a little deeper than usual can prove useful.
Meanwhile, Hard Landing will journey from Pat Duff’s Deagon yard to Dalby on Saturday to have a crack at the $20,000 Lightning (800m).
The ownership of the All Too Hard gelding includes South Burnett Regional Council’s mayor Brett Otto and councillor Kathy Duff as well as several members of their families.
Snitzel’s grandson has been successful three times first-up. Although it has only been three weeks since his last appearance, he may enjoy the 800 metre dash. Wendy Peel again has the mount.
Other Burnett-based acceptors on Saturday at Gympie are Vizone and Jain (Kristen Roon), Gossiaux and Fend Off (Kym Afford), Clear The Bill (Peter Blackwell), Spressi (Patrick Sexton) and Rocket Ryan (Mark Ferguson).
Bob Murray’s My Certain will carry the same colours as Brombasstic, a debut winner for the family at Thangool a fortnight after Jack’s passing.
