A win worth waiting for - 52 years later

Octogenarian Bathurst horseman Arthur Clancy reckons he might be getting towards the end of his harness racing career – but there was one piece of unfinished business he was determined to take care of.

And on Monday night (October 12), the 83-year-old did just that, returning to Canberra to claim a victory more than half a century after his first success at the track.

Clancy partnered his trusty mare Rose of Juliana (American Ideal) to a convincing five-metre victory at bolter’s odds of $61, completing a personal mission that had been several years in the making.

“Wins are never hard to take but last night was pretty special,” Clancy said.

“I guess I’m coming to the end of the day in this, and I’ve had this on my list to do. I won a race at Canberra back in 1974 so a couple of years ago that made it 50 years since I won on that old Canberra track,” he said.

“Up until recently I couldn’t come down and drive on the Canberra track because of my age and a tie up on the insurance – but that’s changed in the last few months and last night I had to sign a waiver saying that I am driving at my own risk and not covered by insurance.

“But it meant I could come back and try to get that win. It meant a lot.”

Clancy made the most of the opportunity, positioning Rose of Juliana beautifully in the one-out, two-back trail before going three-wide down the back straight. The mare responded strongly around the turn and found plenty in the home straight to score by five metres.

It was her 11th career victory and the first for both trainer and horse for the season – although Clancy had quietly fancied their chances.

“I was fairly confident – the mare was the best qualified horse in the race and she was coming back from a long spell, but working extremely well,” he said.

“I did expect she would be 4 or 5/1 – and they sent her out (rank outsider) at 60/1. I’ve had the horses out of training for a while, and they’ve had 15 weeks work.”

Clancy’s first Canberra success came aboard a mare named Lucky Colleen in 1974, back when harness racing was conducted on a track inside the city’s gallops circuit.

“Lucky Colleen was a bit unsound but she was actually my first winner.  She had won previous to Canberra at Canowindra when they raced there in those days, but I had the photo of the Canberra win on my wall at home.  I brought it with me when we came down and I’ve left it with the photographer after the win last night, so I can have the two framed together.

“This was a bit of a personal project!

“I have had some nice moments at Canberra over the years, a few wins and a few losses, but it’s always been a happy place for me in a way.  I’ve had a few good nights down there and the hospitality of the Canberra committee and the way it run is always very impressive.”

The veteran horseman, who took up harness racing in the 1960s after his football career was cut short, still enjoys the daily routine of working with his horses.

He operates a small stable on his property at Laughing Waters, outside Bathurst, with wife Carmel continuing to play an important role.

“I would be lost without her.  I have to rein her in sometimes, or she’d have more in the stable!  Carmel just loves the horses and she really is the strength behind the operation.  Also a friend, Dennis Oxley, who handed in his licence a while back, has been helping me for a long time and still does.”

Rose of Juliana, who won three races last season, is one of just two horses Clancy has in work. The other is her half-brother Kaeleighs Comet, a maiden pacer who Clancy says has also benefited from some time away from the racetrack.

“I had issues with him hitting a knee, but with the long break and growing up a little bit, he seems to have worked through all that and he’s been trialling really well,” Clancy said.

“He’s ready to go, but I’ve nominated him three times and been balloted three times, so I guess we’ll just keep trying.”

 

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink