October
JulyEventful
The Richo report (29/6) on the Melbourne International equestrian event at Werribee Mansion was great to see in a punters’ publication, with the good news that many — but far from all — racehorses have a coddled life after racing.
I walked the course at Werribee and the heights and spreads of the jumps for eventers very understandably had a profound effect on the family Richo.
Of particular interest in the mansion grounds is a "haha", to my knowledge one of only two in Victoria, which had to be jumped into and out from.
Gai Waterhouse had a high performer named Ha Ha quite recently — recently by us veterans’ standards, anyway.
Showjumping courses differ from eventing courses and variously cater for height (puissance and six-bar) and speed, with points lost for dislodging or refusing a jump, and subject to time limits.
As a younger man I rode a horse owned by my late father — a proud lighthorseman and dedicated equestrian — over the six-foot (183cm) last leap of a six-bar contest, a sound effort on the part of the horse as I walked around at 13 stone (82.5kg).
This left me at only a foot-and-a-bit shy of the height cleared by my youngest sister!
Richo was excited, and with good reason, by horses ridden over the imposing table-and-chairs jump.
A famous Victorian horseman of yesteryear originated such jumps, but Bill McKay managed to clear the table and chairs with a complement of afternoon-tea partakers seated around the table.
And none spilled a drop of tea or a crumb from their scones.
This party trick was several times repeated and well recorded, with photographs abounding. I recall the leaper was only a pony, which was not unusual in those days.
Most showjumping ponies were not thoroughbreds, although they had thoroughbred in them, and perhaps because of this cross-breeding they tended to be durable and intelligent.
A great example was the famous Mark Radium, joint holder of the Adelaide showjumping record who cleared 7’8’’ (234cm) in Albury and 7’3’’ (221cm) in Melbourne in 1938.
Between the years of 1947 and 1955 the horse was beaten only once — and that was only because he was recovering from illness. Mark Radium competed in open events despite being eligible for pony events because of his size.
He competed for two decades, retiring in 1955 at the age of 23.
He was owned by a Mr F. Engelbert of Bowral (NSW) and usually ridden by Jack McGee.
There is a Mark Radium Park outside Berry in his honour.
Rutherglen (Vic)