DECIMAL currency was introduced in Australia on February 14, 1966. And two days before its introduction, Frank Beattie started as a cadet racing steward in the Western District – and he maintains a role as a steward today.
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Beattie, 74, has witnessed untold changes and controversies in racing during his 50-year reign.
Wearing his familiar pork-pie hat, he will celebrate his achievement at the Colac Cup meeting on Sunday. He still remembers his first meeting as a cadet working at Hamilton.
“It's a personal milestone making the 50 years,” he said. I've loved the job. I've met lots of wonderful people and a few scallywags over the years, but it's been a great journey.”
Beattie fell in love with racing as a youngster. He would go along to local race meetings at the now closed racecourses such as Koroit, Hawkesdale and Cobden in the back of his uncle Andy's horse float from Warrnambool. He managed to juggle racing with a career at The Standard as journalist, chief of staff and deputy editor spanning more than 20 years.
“I suppose the racing bug got me at an early age and has not left,” he said.
“I had a stint as a jockey with Kevin Lafferty. I only rode a few winners.
“My first cup win was on Serenada for Laff at Macarthur in 1959 and I won the 1960 Mortlake Cup on Star de Feu for him.
“Laff was a legend down here. He gave so many people a chance to start their careers in racing. I can still remember riding horses from his stables at the top of Liebig Street down to Warrnambool's main beach in the mornings. You could not do that today – with all the traffic, it would be too dangerous.”
The sport of kings got bigger in the 1960s which saw many small country tracks close.
“They used to get big crowds to the Saturday afternoon race meetings in those days. They were real social days where people would catch up with family and friends,” he said. “The days were really big for the small country communities.
“It was a shame the small courses were closed as the businesses in the towns received so many benefits from hosting the meetings. But it's all about change and (this meant the race meetings) went to bigger courses with better facilities.”
This was just one of many major changes.
“I can remember back when women were not even allowed to strap horses, let alone ride in races or train. Blokes did all the work with horses,” he said.
“Race books never contained the names of jockeys. There was no form in race books as declarations were only 45 minutes before a race. Now we have wall-to-wall form coverage. Punters have benefited by a lot of the changes, with racing on television covering all angles being beamed into homes.”
A big part of Beattie's love affair with racing has centered on jumps racing.
He has witnessed Australia's greatest jumping race, Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase, from various vantage points – including in stewards’ towers around the track – and he’s seen many a heroic deed by horse and jockey.
“I was there as a 10-year-old boy to see my uncle Andy's horse win the 1952 Brierly Steeplechase,” he said.
“The Grand Annual is an amazing race. I've watched the deeds of horses like Gypsy Grey, The Sundance Kid and Foxboy – but the best effort I believe I've seen in the Annual was of Buxton in 1963.
“Buxton won the 1963 Brierly Steeplechase and he followed up that effort winning the Annual two days later.
“He had been struggling to run out a strong two-mile steeplechase, but in 1963 he just went to the front and kept on going.
“It was a masterful ride on Buxton by Noel Cole and he just rated him perfectly to run out the 5500 metres.”
Controversy and racing have often gone hand-in-hand.
Beattie’s daughter Jo was working when Rick Renzella switched the crack sprinter Regal Vista for the bumble-footed Royal School in the Munthan Handicap at Casterton on May 12, 1972.
“The Casterton ring-in is one of the greatest controversies in Australian racing. I was on the stewards’ panel for that meeting,” he said.
“Let's just say with all the balances and checks in place in 2016, I would say it's nearly impossible to swap horses now.”
Beattie admits he's in the twilight of his career, but he’s not ready to make a decision about his future as a steward at this stage.
"Nothing goes forever. There will be a time when I have to give it away,” he said.
“My health is good and I'm still enjoying the job, so we'll just keep on going for now.
“I've been fortunate to have worked with some great people over my time as a steward and met some great people.
“I'm lucky. I have wonderful memories of doing a job I've loved.
“When I retire, I'll get a bit more time to play golf or bowls. I really enjoy playing both sports – they give you the chance to unwind.”
It's fitting that former Racing Victoria chairman of stewards Des Gleeson, a long-time friend and work colleague, has the final word on Beattie's career as a steward. The pair worked together for many years.
“Frank's knowledge of racing is unsurpassed. He knows the rules of racing like the back of his hand,” Gleeson said.
“He is honest and respected by his peers at all levels. He has done an amazing job over 50 years.
“I have no doubt he would have made an excellent metropolitian steward as he possess great ability to read a race, but he and his wife Margaret decided to stay in the country which I could always understand.”