{"id":205044,"date":"2018-03-26T12:35:18","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T02:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=205044"},"modified":"2020-08-05T14:13:43","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T04:13:43","slug":"nanango-gearing-up-for-a-golden-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/03\/26\/nanango-gearing-up-for-a-golden-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Nanango Gearing Up
For A Golden Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FLASHBACK: Hopetoun Street showed fine form in the second race at last year’s Easter meeting at Lee Park, beating runner-up Turbo Teddy by one and a quarter lengths<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>March 26, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Monday afternoon, history enthusiasts will be quick to check the nomination list for Nanango\u2019s Easter Saturday program.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are several current racing folk with connections to the Re-Opening Day fifty years ago, and it will be interesting to see if they are represented by runners during the celebratory event.<\/p>\n

On April 20, 1968 racecaller Barry Green conveyed glad tidings to the favourite backers.<\/p>\n

All the winners at that inaugural gathering were the punters\u2019 first elect.<\/p>\n

Tulkara, trained by Des Burns, kicked the run off at even money, Mick\u2019s Luck (Les Hone) prevailed at 5\/1 on, Bar Book (R.Teague) started at 6\/4, Small Cat (K.Rees) at 10\/9 and, Myendetta (R.Teague) scored at 6\/4 on in the finale, a race that proved to be more than fascinating for the stewards.<\/p>\n

Green went on to be a leading trainer.<\/p>\n

Presently, Murranji carries his livery of purple, gold braces, sleeves and cap.<\/p>\n

The I Am Invincible gelding that he part-owns followed up a Chinchilla victory three weeks ago with a tidy fourth at Wandoan on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Green\u2019s son Andrew, the Nanango Race Club President, trainer Glenn Richardson and Kilkivan truck driver Mark Ferguson are syndicate members of the Murranji team. Ian Duncan and his son Matt are also in the side.<\/p>\n

The former was involved with the Nanango Cup hero Alify, and the latter is Hannah English\u2019s manager.<\/p>\n

Richardson has direct family links with Mick\u2019s Luck – his mother Glenda has the dual honour of having booted home and trained the bush champion, and her father Fred was a prolific winning rider on the tough son of The Magistrate.<\/p>\n

Mick Wecker\u2019s titanic trooper was prepared for his aforementioned Nanango triumph by Pat Duff.<\/p>\n

Tom Moloney\u2019s father Mick and Fred Freeman\u2019s brother Clive were other Burnett conditioners that handled Mick\u2019s Luck while Glenda\u2019s sister Margaret also visited the winner\u2019s circle, courtesy of the old iron horse.<\/p>\n

Peter Sexton, whose trainer-son Patrick is a former premiership title-holder for a Lee Park, tasted success with Coogal\u2019s Rocket at Nanango.<\/p>\n

The versatile Rocket Star gelding\u2019s regular country rider was the late Billy Barnes, Tulkara\u2019s jockey a half century ago.<\/p>\n

Ted Goodwin and Barnes were both disqualified for twelve months after an inquiry was held into aspects of the last race on the card.<\/p>\n

Barnes on the runner-up Narrawakka and Goodwin on the only other candidate in Ben\u2019s Idea faced charges of improper practices and failing to allow
\ntheir mounts to run on their merits.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s honorary stewards that assisted Jim McGill, the Queensland Turf Club stipe, were John Lee\u2019s father Graham, Ray Hickmott and W.F. Williams, the N.R.C. Vice President at the time.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> There will be a touch more history later this week when the Nanango program is previewed.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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FLASHBACK: Nanango jockey Hannah Phillips and South Burnett Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff were both in the pink at Lee Park’s February meeting last year; this Saturday they’ll both be in the pink again<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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