Conheady brothers to pay 1989 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase sling

The Thursday evening after the feature jumps race at the carnival, they have to pay jumps jockey Laurie Paltridge, who rode Dunroe to victory, his winning sling – a sling he has claimed for the past 28 years.

That sling is a bag of spuds. The brothers are local spud farmers and Paltridge is no longer a jumps jockey, but the trio join with family and friends to reminisce about the deeds of their former jumping hero with a meal.

Frank said it’s hard to believe it’s 28 years since Dunroe defeated Action Boy and Being Bold on that Thursday afternoon.

“Time waits for no-one – that’s a true statement,” he said.

“We had tried 22 horses over three years trying to get an Annual runner before Dunroe came along.

“I can still remember the afternoon back in ’89. There had been a bit of drizzling rain in the morning.

“Action Boy was three to four lengths clear at the bottom of the hill.

“I thought Dunroe would run second again, but he refused to give in and got up to win.

“The only sad part is that we best our good mate, Bob Morey, who trained Action Boy.

“It was a great training performance by Shayne Fisher.

“Dunroe was a first-season chaser when he won the Annual but people didn’t know the horse had been droving, showjumping, hunting and doing polo cross the previous year.”

The Conheadys’ love to have a chat and tell a story or two while having a break from the spud paddock.

“They have witnessed plenty of changes to racing and in particular the Grand Annual Steeplechase over more than 60 years.

“They still talk about their great uncle losing the 1929 Grand Annual on protest.

“My great uncle had a horse called Pick Me,” Frank said.

“He was first over the line but got disqualified and the the race was won by Cooliel.

“The Annual is a race my family has always wanted to win, so it was wonderful that Dunroe won it in ’89.

“Prizemoney for the Annual was $55,000 back in 1989. The winning cheque was $35,750, compare that to this year.

“It’s a $350,000 race now and the winners cheque is $192,500 – that would buy a lot of bags of spuds.”

With the introduction of a novice steeplechase on Wednesday to the Carnival’s program this year, Warrnambool Racing Club has decided to name the race after Dunroe.

He ran in the 5500 metre race on four other occasions after his win in 1989, falling in 1990 in the second lap when in a good position, finishing fourth in 1991, second in 1992 and third in 1993.

EXPERIENCED racing administrator Lisa Evans is the new manager of the Dunkeld Racing Club.

Evans replaces long-serving manager Karen Van Kempen, who has retired after 13 years.

Club president Edward Blackwell said the committee was excited and looking forward to working with Evans.

“Lisa brings extensive experience in the racing industry and more recently a strong involvement in the co-ordination and management of the iconic Hanging Rock races and meetings at Kyneton Racing Club,” Blackwell said.

“It was important for the committee that the club appointed someone who had a strong background in event management, as well as proven business skills to manage what has become one of the most successful country cups on the racing calendar.

“Lisa has held positions with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria since 2009, overseeing the financial management of numerous clubs – large and small.

“We felt Lisa was the perfect candidate to work hand in hand with the club’s volunteer committee in brining the annual event together.”

This year’s Dunkeld Cup meeting will be run on November 17.

WARRNAMBOOL’S proud, colourful and long history in racing has been documented by Mark McNamara in a book titled The ’Bool.

The book, released just in time for this year’s Carnvial, is a labour of love from McNamara on an important subject.

It gives an insight into so many aspects of racing in his old home town.

From its first race meeting in March 1848, the book details early steeplechase races run in Belfast and Warrnambool.

The purchase of the Brierly paddock in 1890 and Granter’s paddock in 1899 – which are now part of Australia’s great jumping race – the Grand Annual Steeplechase is also documented.

The book captures the deeds of local household racing names such as Kevin Lafferty, Ted Byrne, John Williams, Neville Wilson and Kelvin Bourke, as well as legends of the sport including Jim Houlihan, Brett Scott, John Wheeler and Galleywood.

Results from Brierly and Grand Annual Steeplechases, Warrnambool Cups, Wangoom Handicaps and Galleywood Hurdles plus the records of trainers and jockeys over the three-day carnival are wonderful reading.

The book, which is for sale over the carnival, comprises about 110,000 words and nearly 400 pages.

It’s a great read, not only for the racing purists but for the locals who would like a documented history of the sport in Warrnambool and the south-west.