{"id":201079,"date":"2018-02-12T09:34:53","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T23:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=201079"},"modified":"2020-08-07T14:07:31","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T04:07:31","slug":"at-the-winners-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/02\/12\/at-the-winners-side\/","title":{"rendered":"At The Winners’ Side"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Nanango’s Clerk Of The Course Wayne Hancock (right) escorts the 2016 Fitzroy Hotel Nanango Cup winners Tampere and Jason Hoopert from the track (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>February 11, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wayne Hancock was nearly sixteen when he first rode his grey horse Stork out to the track to serve as clerk of the course for the Nanango Race Club. <\/strong><\/p>\n

President John Lee and Bobby Greaves approached him about the task which he has performed successfully and loyally for a few years shy of four decades.<\/p>\n

His later partners included Jessie and Birdwatcher, a retired racehorse trained by Glenda Richardson.<\/p>\n

Hancock, a long time employee at Swickers Bacon Factory at Kingaroy, is also a redcoat at Kumbia and Wondai.<\/p>\n

He also finds the time to be the farrier at some South Burnett racetracks and Kilcoy, Bell and Warra.<\/p>\n

“Norm Kruger, Col Ryan and Vince Collins were Nanango\u2019s clerks who helped my in the early stages,” said Wayne.<\/p>\n

“I have only missed one or two Nanango days.<\/p>\n

“Kerry Mercer, Brian Patterson and my brother Leslie are also members of the team.”<\/p>\n

Hancock and his colleagues have a job of extremes.<\/p>\n

The challenge comes when the thoroughbreds misbehave, particularly when there is a runaway.<\/p>\n

The joyful moments are when they escort a winning horse and rider back to the enclosure.<\/p>\n

A very special occasion transpired on Melbourne Cup Day at Kumbia in 2015.<\/p>\n

“Glenn Richardson put a syndicate together to try and win the first Jim Lenihan Memorial.<\/p>\n

“He gave me a share in Lucks In because of my shoeing work for his stable and his mother\u2019s before that,” he said.<\/p>\n

The outcome was akin to a fairytale.<\/p>\n

Hancock had the ultimate pleasure of bringing the Bradbury\u2019s Luck gelding and his jockey Hannah English back to the elated owners that included Jim\u2019s brother Brian.<\/p>\n

Wayne and his wife Francine, who is a raceday swabbing assistant, have had other ownership ventures, particularly with Jason Livingstone and his father Ian.<\/p>\n

The latter puts the polish on Effective Assassin, a winner of an Ipswich maiden.<\/p>\n

Hancock, 53, is one of a host of Nanango Race Club stalwarts who are looking forward to the Golden Anniversary program on Easter Saturday, March 31.<\/p>\n

Hoofnote:<\/b> Wayne Hancock sure is multi-skilled. The chat for the above snippet took place per phone when he was on horseback, mustering cattle. Fortunately there were no runaways !<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
John Lee, Nanango Race Club’s President for 39 years, officially retired from the job in 2015; his contribution to racing in the South Burnett has been remarkable (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bits And Bridles<\/strong><\/h2>\n