October
MayA man of passion
Frank Creamona died doing what he enjoyed the most — attending to his horses early in the morning at Geelong Racecourse. Aged 71, Frank had recently retired from his nightshift job, employment that enabled him to indulge his passion as a racehorse trainer.
Initially Frank rode over the jumps. I have an idea that, at one stage, he was apprenticed to the legendary Tony Lopes.
Over the years, Frank bought many horses from us. I gave up trying to get him to lease fillies from us.
“I only buy them”, he used to say.
I once tried to get back a filly we had sold him when her close relations were winning stakes races.
“No, I swapped her for a load of hay … someone from Bacchus Marsh!”
The best horses he bought from us were Forest Man, the winner of five races and Brave Man, the winner of six races.
I once quizzed Frank on why he’d accepted with Brave Man on a stakes day at Flemington when there were winnable races on offer elsewhere.
He just said, “I’ll be there.”
That was Frank. He broke his own horses in. He rode them in all their work. He died doing what he enjoyed.
Flowerdale (Vic)