October
MayBernborough facts
Richo (22/5), please get your facts right when writting about an Australian legend.
Bernborough broke down at the turn in his final start. He did not win. He did not finish the race and he did not break his leg.
To quote an article on justracing.com.au, "Mulley was sacked from the ride and Queensland jockey Billy Briscoe rode Bernborough in his Melbourne Cup pipe opener – the Mackinnon Stakes. Bernborough broke down in the run when he fractured a sesamoid.
"Bernborough was sent to America to stand at stud, at renowned Spendthrift Farm in the bluegrass country of Kentucky where he died in 1960. He was to produce two good sons – Berseem, who was champion USA sprinter of his year, and Bernwood, who held the world one mile (1600 metres) record for a time."
But Bernborough will never be forgotten – nor should he be allowed to be – as the Doomben 10,000 and Doomben Cup come around each year.
Thanks to some great race calls by men like Keith Noud, we racing people of today can close our eyes for a short time and just imagine the herculean task that faced this great horse as he swung for home in a Doomben 10,000 – just 27th of 27 on the turn – with just 65.5 kilos.
Bernborough was inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 2001.
Currimundi (Qld)