by Graham Fischer
One of New Zealand’s former champion reinsman Robert Cameron is coming to Wayville for Retro Night on Friday, October 27.
Cameron, who turns 79 next month, said he jumped at the opportunity to see racing again around the Showgrounds track.
“When I heard they were going to hold a meeting at Wayville I knew I had to go,” Cameron said.
Cameron’s first trip was in 1964 but he returned in 1969 to win two heats of the Inter Dominion on Twinkle Hanover for Harold ‘Speed; Riley.
“We drew the outside of the front in the grand final and began well but had to sit outside Richmond Lass which was too good and I finished third.
“My first sight of Wayville was back in 1964. I went to Melbourne with a horse called Tactile.
“They raced at the Melbourne Showgrounds and coming from New Zealand where the tracks were much bigger I couldn’t believe they race around a 3-1/2-furlong (700m) track.
“After Melbourne, we made the trip to Adelaide and there was a 2-1/2-furlong (500m) track – I was amazed races were held on such a tiny track.”
Tactile was good enough to conquer the opposition in the Minor Derby Free-For-All but Cameron was hooked on Wayville.
“The atmosphere was something you couldn’t believe. So many people right around the track, the noise was deafening.
“With such tight racing, you needed to have great horsemen and South Australia did with the likes of Stan Messenger, Kevin Brook, Bill Shinn, Dick, Lloyd and Joe Webster – they were all great, hard men.”
Cameron delights in telling a story about Stan Messenger.
“I had as drive for Alby Holberton one night of a pacer called Mayfield Scott which was owned by a famous footballer Lindsay Head.
“It was about 33/1 but when we hit the line it was a photo. I thought I had won but Stan Messenger knew I had scored. It didn’t stop him saying, “I’ll save you 50,” on the result of the photo. I didn’t take up his offer but it made me laugh.”
Such was Cameron’s love of Wayville, he dropped into Adelaide on the way home from finishing fourth on the champion mare Robin Dundee in the 1967 Inter Dominion in Perth.
“I dropped in to The Advertiser to see trotting writer Clem Hewitt. Clem said there was a trotting meeting at Snowtown the following day with an invitation race and he would get me a drive.
“I said don’t worry but he did, then on the following day he turned up to take me to Snowtown and I ended up winning the race. It was a long day.”
Cameron said he couldn’t wait to return to Adelaide for the Wayville meeting and was looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing harness racing around the ‘saucer under lights’.
Tickets for the Wayville Trots on Friday 27 October 2017 are now available via www.ticketek.com.au
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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