Forgotten people
I feel that I have to comment on Albert Thompson’s letter (23/6) about Black Caviar’s strapper.
There is no doubt that she has been treated badly but unfortunately that is how trainers and owners see strappers.
My son strapped a horse that won the Melbourne Cup, looked after it (for 3-4 months) and made sure that it got to the track safe on race day, returned to the stables, fed, rubbed down and so on.
What thanks did he get from trainer and owner after winning millions of dollars? Nothing. Just his normal strapper’s pay for any normal race meeting.
I lost all respect for trainers after that. My son took it well but fair dinkum, these people do not understand the dedication and hard work of these people who strap a horse.
As an owner of a horse that won a race at Caulfield I made sure that money was given to the strapper.
East Keilor (Vic)