ORFORD'S Anne McGrath ticked off another item from her bucket list when she filled the role as a clerk-of the-course at the big Oaks Day meeting at Flemington on Thursday.
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McGrath, who has been a clerk of the course at Warrnambool for more then 40 years was randomly selected from other female clerks-of-the-course across the state to work on the traditional ladies day of the four day Flemington carnival.
"It's just special to work at Flemington," McGrath told The Standard.
It's just special to work at Flemington.
- Anne McGrath
"It's always been something I've wanted to do was to work at Flemington, until you're out there riding your horse around you don't really realise how big the track is.
"It's a massive course. I had a good look around at the course and it's surrounds because former Warrnambool Racing Club racecourse manager Liam O'Keeffe is in charge.
"Liam has done an incredible job having everything in great shape for the big four day carnival. I'm very thankful to Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club for giving me the chance to work there for the day."
McGrath is no stranger to Flemington as she was on-course when Tears I Cry - a horse she part-owned - won the 2007 group one Emirates Stakes at odds of $100 for the mother of three.
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"I'll never forget Tears I Cry winning back in 2007," she said. "It was a huge day. He was the rank-outsider.
"I never thought for an instant in 2007 that I would have got the chance to work there in 2021."
McGrath's family has had a long family tradition working as clerks of the course.
Her sister Janet Williams worked at the Flemington Oaks Day meeting in 2019 while their dad Leo Dwyer filled the role at Warrnambool for more then 58 years.
Warrnambool host an eight race program on Friday and McGrath will be trackside as one of the clerks of course.
The track is rated a good four and the running rail is out nine metres.
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