MY CALL - UNSUNG HEROES DESERVE RECOGNITION

By David Fowler | Tuesday, January 3, 2012

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

There are so many unsung heroes in racing.

To start 2012, we are going to "sing" one.

Amidst the politics of racing, the grandstanding of some administrators and the big wages of a few, there are so many involved in our business who will never rate a mention.

Yet these are people who live and breathe racing, earning a zillionth of what some at the top end of town take home.

"Never rate a mention." They wouldn't care in the slightest.

Take Kerry Nutley, for instance, at the Ipswich Turf Club.

Now in retirement from full-time work, Kerry is the first person to greet you at the track with a smile and that same smile greets you after the last race.

Rather than risk embarrassing Kerry by discussing his financial ethics … suffice to say Kerry would work for nothing if need be.

And it's not just the satisfaction of having a job one day a week, but it's the pride he has in working for the club.

Would Kerry have the same fervour and zeal in working for another club? Maybe, but maybe not.

It's his courteous manner and his pride in the club that prompted me to pen this piece.

Of course, Kerry is not the only one. His brother Errol also works at the track. Then there's Christine in the office and Des in the members' lounge and so on.

The point to all of this is there are so many people at so many clubs Australia-wide who carry out their duties like Kerry Nutley.

It's worth remembering when you've had a gutful of all the political b.s.!!

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There are no hidden surprises now as we draw closer to the Magic Millions.

If Driefontein, Sizzling or Amorino don't collect the major end of the prize I'd be mightily surprised.

There is so much upside to Driefontein and Sizzling from an MM viewpoint.

They ran fast time in the McLachlan Stakes on Saturday, in fact the fastest for this race, beating Mr Innocent's race record set in 1997.

They beat the rest of the field by five lengths. Nothing … repeat nothing … that finished behind them can beat them home.

Driefontein went into the race untrialled so she is certain to be fitter while Sizzling ran out of his skin from a bad barrier.

Amorino was also first-up at Rosehill and did well to win after a hectic tempo upfront.

He is yet to run at 1200m so I have to place him behind the other pair.

It will come down to barriers, as simple as that, and I fancy if Sizzling draws well he will win the Magic Millions.

And Kelso Wood certainly deserves an MM victory after Prince Regent lost it on protest in the late eighties.

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What an amazing and sad incident the no-race at Doomben was.

Secrets Untold was a great campaigner for Phillip Cox and to lose his life was a tragedy and upsetting for those on track.

The sight of the distraught animal obviously played on their minds when almost a lap later they cheered when the jockeys pulled up their mounts as they headed towards the finishing line.

For hardened racegoers and maybe first timers to clap in unison was a rare but refreshing sight.

Some will suggest to call the race off was a hasty one but in the end most would not argue the point for too long.

Maybe some protocols could be put in place for the future if the very unlikely occurrence happened again.

I know a siren use to sound at trackwork sessions when there was a fallen horse or an injured rider.

Something to think about.

Until next week.

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