Archive
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Letter of the Week

For the record

While I was away on a four-week holiday recently one of my mates kept the Winning Post editions for me to read when I returned home.
Last Sunday night I picked one of them up to have a read before retiring for the night. It was the August 22 edition and I read the story Shane Templeton wrote about Gunsynd and “The Goondiwindi Grey” (the Gunsynd song).
The lyrics were written by Nev Hauritz and the music by Brian Wallace both from Kingaroy, my home town, to which I have returned to live in retirement. I thoroughly enjoyed the article and I remembered that I have a copy of the record in my vinyl collection.
I then retired for the night with the radio on and listened to the local ABC (southern Queensland) until I nodded off.
I awoke the next morning just before 6am and to my amazement the song that was played at that time was none other than “The Goondiwindi Grey” by Tex Morton. I couldn’t believe that I had read about the song before going to sleep and it was the first thing I heard on the radio upon awakening. A bit scary.
Anyway, I have been to the shed and located my copy of the record, which was released by the Picture Record Company with a photo of Gunsynd on the A side and a photo of Tex Morton on the B side for his version of “Drinking with the Dead” (Henry Lawson).
The record is still in the original cover and it cost $1.65 when purchased on 4/4/1973. On the back of the cover it has been endorsed “To Darryl from an old Kingaroy mate. Regards Nev Hauritz (29.4.73)”.
I think that this was the first ever record to be released with a photo over the whole record (playing surface).
I can still remember when Gunsynd made his final appearance at Randwick racecourse for all of his fans to acknowledge his career.
One of his regular jockeys, Kevin Langby, rode him up the straight and he stopped in front of the packed grandstand and just stood, looking at the huge crowd and taking it all in, being the aristocrat that he was all during his amazing and successful racing career.
Pretty good for a $4000 purchase for his four owners, the Goondiwindi Syndicate (which is how he got his name, Gunsynd).
Thanks for the memories.

Daryl Swan
Kingaroy (Qld)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March