Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 21, 2011 2:23:05 GMT 12
I have seen several official programmes for "racing clubs" and "jockey clubs" from RNZAF forward area bases. For example there was the Solomon Islands Turf Club, and the Guadalcanal Jockey Club.
The programmes have many hilarious or humorous lambasts of the vaerious squadron members with made-up horse names and pedigrees. Examples like:
"Sqn Ldr Foote's "Dysentry" by "Movements" out of "Control"
or
"Flying Officer Usmar's "Miracle" by "Good Grub" out of "Rations"
The programmes read like a humourous take on Best Bets. They have specific races, each named after something also usually a double-entenre that takes the mickey out of squadron member.
I used to think these programmes were just jokes for reading and that's it. But I have since seen photos of an actual horse race event in progress. The photos are labelled as the Coconut Grove Racing Club, Special V.E. Day Meeting". I don't know which island they are on but I suspect Bougainvile. In the photo there are actual wooden horses, a little smaller than a saw horse but the same trestle style but with a head like a rocking horse. Men are sitting on them, in a course roped out between drums. On the ground a grid pattern has been marked out in rectangles about 2x4 feet. The gridded course is lined with eager punters.
There's also a table at the start end with a chap who looks to be an official, with a tannoy microphone, and in one shot there's also a man in drag on the microphone!
So how did they run these races? Was there some sort of dice or chance type thing that saw horses move forward a square? It seems obvious that actual betting was placed, and totalisers were run. has anyone ever talked to a veteran who recalls how these races worked? I'm very curious to know.
The programmes have many hilarious or humorous lambasts of the vaerious squadron members with made-up horse names and pedigrees. Examples like:
"Sqn Ldr Foote's "Dysentry" by "Movements" out of "Control"
or
"Flying Officer Usmar's "Miracle" by "Good Grub" out of "Rations"
The programmes read like a humourous take on Best Bets. They have specific races, each named after something also usually a double-entenre that takes the mickey out of squadron member.
I used to think these programmes were just jokes for reading and that's it. But I have since seen photos of an actual horse race event in progress. The photos are labelled as the Coconut Grove Racing Club, Special V.E. Day Meeting". I don't know which island they are on but I suspect Bougainvile. In the photo there are actual wooden horses, a little smaller than a saw horse but the same trestle style but with a head like a rocking horse. Men are sitting on them, in a course roped out between drums. On the ground a grid pattern has been marked out in rectangles about 2x4 feet. The gridded course is lined with eager punters.
There's also a table at the start end with a chap who looks to be an official, with a tannoy microphone, and in one shot there's also a man in drag on the microphone!
So how did they run these races? Was there some sort of dice or chance type thing that saw horses move forward a square? It seems obvious that actual betting was placed, and totalisers were run. has anyone ever talked to a veteran who recalls how these races worked? I'm very curious to know.
