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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Page 111
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TYNONG ON TRACK ■ The new track at Tynong for the Pakenham Racing Club is coming along nicely according to their Racing General Manager, Michael Hodge. Congratulations are in order for Michael who has been elevated to the newly appointed position to overseer the new track. The position of CEO at Pakenham has been filled by Mark Graham, former Secretary at Kyneton, who also spent time with Racing Victoria. We wish Mark all the best, and I look forward to working with him in the future. Michael and his hard working Committee have put in many hours, with the intended move next year to the new established track down the road. He deserves the elevation as he put in all the time at Pakenham and has been justly rewarded. I worked at Pakenham on August 18 for their big jumps day, to honour the late Michael Bourke who with his family got the ball rolling when they family opened the track back in the twenties with Mr Bourke in charge from 1926 until 1949. He was later succeeded by his son David, who became Chairman, and later in life was rewarded for his efforts by being elected Chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. David took over as Secretary of the Pakenham Racing Club when he was only 18 years of age after ill health forced his father to retire. In 1926, Michael Bourke was instrumental in the reconstruction of the racecourse, as well as providing the necessary finance. The feature event on Jumps day was the M.J.Bourke Hurdle named in honour of Michael, Joseph Bourke, having first being run in 1957. The name of Bourke is synonymous with the Pakenham Racing Club through generations of involvement by the Bourke family. A number of former great jumping jockeys were invited along to enjoy the day, among
Ted Ryan
● Guelph Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
them one of the greats, Trevor Jones, now in his seventies, who recalled some of the antics the boys got up to in the ups and overs, especially stories of another great Jumps rider, the late Ron Hall. Trevor had the honour of riding three winners of the M.J. Bourke Hurdle, and the Committee and their guests certainly enjoyed the stories he told from yesteryear. He was interviewed by jumps historian, John Adams, who did a great job. Among the present day hoops were recently retired Craig Durden and Brett Scott, as well as Nick Hartnett, who enjoyed the day immensely. It was cheers and beers all around, when Arch Fire, won the first on the card the Jeff Spencer Memorial Hurdle over the 3200 metres. One of the part-
ers is Melbourne Racing Club Chairman, Mike Symons, who also races the brilliant hurdler, Black and Bent. Mike introduced me to his young daughter Grace, a keen racegoer, and why not? Mike told me every time he gets a winner Gracie picks up a crisp fifty dollar note; why not follow Dad on race days? Another feature on race day was the parade of horses and hounds from the Barwon Hunt Club with special commentary from Jeff Urie. The horses, riders and hounds were paraded down the main straight from the home turn and proved a winner for race fans. Another delightful lady who helped with the commentary was Pam Baker, the first lady jockey licensed in Australia.
Back to Tynong ■ Michael Hodge was telling me that the last meeting at the course at Pakenham will be Cup Day next year on Sunday February 9. He was saying it is hoped that the area for trainers to move in with room for 150 horses with the state of the art facilities, should be around February 14, weather permitting. It is hoped the Club will be up and running, once again weather permitting by around the end of 2014, to early 2015.
● The Bourke family has been honoured by Trevor Jones Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
● Prince Harada Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 Another who was three-year-old in all his congratulated at the re- trackwork and has cent Country Rac- openly stated that he is ing Awards was long the best horse he has serving Committee- ever trained or been on. man George Dore, He is the favorite who was acclaimed for the Classic at for the effort that he put Caulfield from the in with a lot of the ar- top New Zealander, rangements for the new Cauthen who is very track at Tynong. smart, then the David A great man; well Hayes unlucky youngdone George. ster, Fast 'N' RockI have been luckily ing, then Eclair Big employed by the Bang, Zoustar and Pakenham Racing Sidestep. Club for a few years, with presentations, hosting and other duties, and Michael and his team, are terrific to ■ The well performed work with. filly, Guelph, heads the charts for the One Thousand Guineas for the three-year-old, with great form bring■ Rave notices are ing her right in the race, coming from every- and will be very hard where about the Tony to beat. Vasil-trained threeA big striding filly year-old, Prince she will be suited at Harada, favorite for Caulfield where she the Caulfield Guin- has shown good form. eas on Saturday OctoUnder the care of ber 12. astute trainer, Peter The son of another Snowden, the filly is great galloper from the all class and come the Vasil yard, Harada- big day I am sure that sun, has big raps on you will see the name him after having only of Guelph up in big two race starts winning lights on the Tote in easy fashion at Board. Sawn Hill, a la two of The Blue DiaTony's greats, Elvs- mond winner, Mirtroem and Harada- acles of Life, is all sun, and a brilliant class, but is very small, winner at the Valley although she has filled coming from last. out, the 1600 metre trip Tony rides the could worry her.
Snowden filly tops
Prince to return
DOCTOR WHO: The Ice Warriors. PINK FLOYD: The Making of The Dark Side of The Moon. BRYAN ADAMS: Live at The Sydney Opera House. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN [Action/Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart]. 2. THE COMPANY YOU KEEP [Drama/Thriller/ Robert Redford, Shia LaBeouf]. 3. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION 3D+Blu-ray+DVD [Action/Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis]. 4. OBLIVION [Science Fiction/Action/Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman]. 5. WARM BODIES [Comedy/Horror/Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer]. 6. A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD [Action/Thriller/ Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch]. 7. ZERO DARK THIRTY [Drama/Thriller/Jessica Chastain, James Gandolfini]. 8. 42 [Biography/Drama/Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford]. 9. BULLET TO THE HEAD [Action/Sylvester Stallone, Sarah Shahi]. 10. DAY OF THE FALCON [Action/Drama/Antonio Banderas, Mark Strong, Freida Pinto]. Also: Scary Movie 5, Identity Thief, Escape From Planet Earth, The Host, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Parker, Cloud Atlas, Evil Dead, Jack The Giant Slayer, Phantom. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: PASSION [Dir: Brian De Palma - Thriller/Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace]. IRON MAN 3 [Science Fiction/Action/Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley]. IRON MAN 3: 3D + Blu-Ray [Science Fiction/ Action/Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley]. KON-TIKI [Adventure/Drama/Pal Sverre Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christianen]. FOR GREATER GLORY [Drama/Action/Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O'Toole]. PROMISED LAND [Drama/Matt Damon, Frances McDormand]. Monty Python's THE MEANING OF LIFE [1983/ Comedy/John Cleese, Michael Palin]. Monty Python Triple Pack: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. SPARTACUS: War of the Damned. PINK FLOYD: The Making of The Dark Side of The Moon. - James Sherlock
Top Dad’s flicks ■ In celebration of upcoming Father’s Day (Sunday) online movie company, Quickflix, has compiled its list of the all-time-greatest Silver Screen dads. Quickflix’s resident movie expert and professional reviewer, Simon Miraudo, compiled the list. ■ Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus is not only the top pick of our film fathers, but in 2003 was voted ‘Greatest Film Hero of All Time’ by the American Film Institute. A prestigious position, and rightly appointed to our favourite on-screen lawyer, who fought for justice in the face of adversity and prejudice, whilst also advising his children Scout and Jem on how to show compassion for all. ■ Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation - “Clark may lead his family into dangerous terrain on several occasions (and not even notice that his kids keep on drastically changing appearance across four films), but his unquenchable desire to give his family the best holiday ever earns him a place on this list.” Simon explains. ■ Mr Levenstein in American Pie - Who can forget his toe-curling, cringe-inducing speeches to Jim detailing his past conquests in the love department? ■ Jack Torrance in The Shining - “Okay, Jack Torrance may actually be worse than Noah Cross and Anakin Skywalker put together. But the best 'Movie Dads' aren't always 'Good Dads,' are they?" Miraudo asks. "If only it hadn't been so snowy at the Overlook Hotel; then Jack and his boy Danny could have had a game of catch! Besides, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."