Superstars from the seventies

[Danno]

Bold Biami is my pick, just look at the way he demolished them off 12 yards behind in the 1973 Australia Day Cup, which made him the first 4YO EVER to win 2 cups at HP, he beat all the best 3YO's in the land winning the NSW Pacers Derby and RC Simpson Sprint as well, tragically his carrer was over well before he reached his prime, he was also very unlucky in the 1973 Interdominion that was won by Hondo Grattan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_djNkbRVW4

need to be patient with this clip as the vision doesn't start till the bell lap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWl8rMw0e0

call starts about 2 minutes into this one

[Messenger]

What vitamins are you guys on!
I cannot remember things in the detail that you guys can.
(Maybe I would win a contest on VFL knowledge however )

[waggamick]

Lucky Creed, Paleface Adios,Mount Eden, Pure Steel, Bay Foyle (& Celevale Van..because I lived in Bankstown and he was a local), Hondo Grattan, Just Too Good, Manaroa, Polo Breeze(because every time I backed him he either won or went close), Koala Frost, Cocky Raider,Welcome Advice, Don't Retreat,Intangible Command,Maoris Idol,Koala King,Dulacca Road,Daintys Daughter, Rip Van Winkle...many a FRiday night spent in a mad dash in a mates FC to just make the first at Harold Park....

[arlington]

I should probably leave these two for a '70's horses that left an impression thread'. A couple of New South Welshmen when they came south, Mitchell Victory and Al's Holiday. As a kid I thought Al was Kevin Newman's second stringer but maybe not? Al won the Kilmore Cup with B Gath driving and two Sir Clive Uhr's (Qld Pacing C'ships). Both entered the first 100, $100,000 winners list. http://www.classicfamilies.net/CF/El....aspx?ListID=8 Some great 70's horses there.
The impressionable bit, as a kid I met a very 'genial' KN. Had just flown in, midweek, to drive Sat night and somewhere after the airport managed to grab a bag of prawns wrapped in newspaper. A bit weird I thought at the time, was that a Sydney thing? 'laughs'
Al's Holiday seemed a gentleman, docile, stayer type whereas Mitchell Victory the flashier. Like I said, an impressionable kid, no doubt the K Newman factor influencing.
What do you think about these two horses you guys north of the Murray?

[Danno]

I should probably leave these two for a '70's horses that left an impression thread'. A couple of New South Welshmen when they came south, Mitchell Victory and Al's Holiday. As a kid I thought Al was Kevin Newman's second stringer but maybe not? Al won the Kilmore Cup with B Gath driving and two Sir Clive Uhr's (Qld Pacing C'ships). Both entered the first 100, $100,000 winners list. http://www.classicfamilies.net/CF/El....aspx?ListID=8 Some great 70's horses there.
The impressionable bit, as a kid I met a very 'genial' KN. Had just flown in, midweek, to drive Sat night and somewhere after the airport managed to grab a bag of prawns wrapped in newspaper. A bit weird I thought at the time, was that a Sydney thing? 'laughs'
Al's Holiday seemed a gentleman, docile, stayer type whereas Mitchell Victory the flashier. Like I said, an impressionable kid, no doubt the K Newman factor influencing.
What do you think about these two horses you guys north of the Murray?

They were both fantastic horses Wayne, IMO just short of superstar status, Mitchell Victory was a sensational juvenile but was unfortunate enough to be foaled in the same year as Paleface and Al's Holiday was competitive in the one or two ID's he competed in without blowing the top notchers away.

[arlington]

They were both fantastic horses Wayne, IMO just short of superstar status, Mitchell Victory was a sensational juvenile but was unfortunate enough to be foaled in the same year as Paleface and Al's Holiday was competitive in the one or two ID's he competed in without blowing the top notchers away.

Thanks Danno, I see Colin and Paleface's place is being sold.

[Richard prior]

Hey Dan, What about Rip Van Winkle???

[Danno]

Hey Dan, What about Rip Van Winkle???

Superstar no doubt Rich, he was trained just over the hill at Maitland and many argued he was better than Bold Biami but I wasn't one of them, but he truly was a superstar, won everything as a 2yo and 3yo, won on the grand circuit as a 4YO but Pure Steel sat outside him and destroyed his self belief at GP, he was never the same horse after that, it truly ended his career. A few people had an opportunity to buy shares in him quite cheaply before he went to the races, and they were all kicking themselves for the rest of their lives.

[Richard prior]

Superstar no doubt Rich, he was trained just over the hill at Maitland and many argued he was better than Bold Biami but I wasn't one of them, but he truly was a superstar, won everything as a 2yo and 3yo, won on the grand circuit as a 4YO but Pure Steel sat outside him and destroyed his self belief at GP, he was never the same horse after that, it truly ended his career. A few people had an opportunity to buy shares in him quite cheaply before he went to the races, and they were all kicking themselves for the rest of their lives.

Cheers Dan, Pure Steel done the same thing to a lot of horses during his career.

[teecee]

Seeing as how I have been asked via PM my view is..
We have about 1030 members to the forum and each could nominate a different horse from the 70's.
We would be hard pressed to dismiss the opinions of any.
I think that this decade is probably THE vintage decade for harness racing horses in this part of the world.
I was just reading a book about Australasia's great trotters last night when I came across an article on Bold Biami. It confirms Danno's view IMO a true star not just from what he won but also who he beat doing it. I guess that really applies to all good horses.
But my superstar of the seventies among a galaxy of stars was undoubtedly "Garbage". So named because he would eat anything in front of him. He was really named after a champion shearer..one of the toughest of professions.
The top ranked 2yo of his year in NZ, he turned in some pretty average efforts at 3 (a la Follow the Stars), improved at 4 without really reaching the heights of his 2yo days. But at 5 he carried all before him against the cream of his vintage.
A clean sweep of the 1975 Interdominions three heats setting national times for 2200m and 3200 m, then in the final rating 2:03.6 for 2700m after starting from 15metre handicap. This was the fastest ever recorded rate in the history of ID finals.
I can still remember all the experts/pundits claiming it totally impossible to win the Miracle Mile from gate 6 when only 6 of the very best were invited,yes that's right, they were ALL invitedby a committee with balls. Picking six of the very best in those days is hardly comparable to picking 8 today when todays 8 would hardly hold a candle to the greats of the 70's. The six best horses in Australasia. There was no having to line up and win a specific race like NZ Cup / FFA, Newcastle / Cordina mile etc.. to get the invite like IMO the nonsense today. If the 6 best were ozzies then they got invited. If a Kiwi was in the mix then he or in the case of Robin Dundee, she got invited. (This should not be taken as an indication of my age, just how long I have been interested in Harness racing.) Garbage got in because he was one of the best. He didn't understand that he couldn't win from out there in gate 6 so he did win after coming from the rear and circling the whole field.
In 1974-75 he became the first horse to earn $100,000 in one season racing in Australasia. Then he went on to tackle the best USA free-for-allers putting a record 1:55 in 1976. For those of you who haven't work it out by now and I guess there would be few here his name was YOUNG QUINN.