by Graham Fischer
A trivia question in harness racing has been which horse won the first race at Globe Derby Park.
The South Australian Harness Racing Club created a new track at Globe Derby Park in the 1960s, and the first meeting was an afternoon meeting on June 24, 1969.
The winner of the first race as a trotter called Beau Power, trained by Alf Taylor, and driven by Kevin Brook.
Now the next question – which was the first pacer to win at Globe Derby Park.
Don’t wrack your memory – the answer is Flyover.
One of the stars of Wayville, Flyover was owned by Margaret Vanstone and trained and driven by Bill Shinn.
Mrs Vanstone, and her husband Rex, were part of a golden era of harness racing, and had an amazing run of success.
Horses such as Wyeuro Chief, Flyover, Bonnie Eden, Bonnie Bright, Bachelor’s Joy, Riawarra Chief, Bobby Hank and Grand Jewel are just a few of the wonderful horses which won races for the Vanstones.
“To be honest, I didn’t appreciate just how significant the horses were at the time,” Vanstone said.
“Yes, I knew they were good horses, but it is now, when I am talking about them, I realise just how good they really were and how people still talk about them.”
Mrs Vanstone passed away in 2002 and her husband attributes all the success to her.
“Margaret was passionate about harness racing, she was very astute, and without her it would not have happened,” he said.
A visit to 79-year-old Vanstone’s home in Lyndoch in the Barossa Valley is a walk back in time to the halcyon days of harness racing.
Photos, awards and memorabilia decorate the walls of his home, then to one side after the scrapbooks which detail the Vanstone history in the sport.
“Wayville was sensational for harness racing,” Vanstone said.
“Being such a small circuit, with people around the whole track, there was such an atmosphere.
“I loved driving there, and also the Melbourne Showgrounds – they were both incredible.”
Vanstone said he would definitely be heading back to Wayville on Friday, October 27 when Harness Racing South Australia conducts a one-off meeting at the old saucer circuit.
“It will be different with no running rails and smaller fields but I’m sure people will get some idea of just how exciting it was to race at Wayville.”
Vanstone, raised on a farm at Port Pirie, had his interest sparked in harness racing when he became friendly with Margaret Connor, whose brother Frank ‘Digger’ Connor, was the driver of champion pacer Radiant Venture.
In fact, Vanstone, and a few of his mates, headed to Perth to watch Radiant Venture win the 1957 Inter Dominion at Gloucester Park and he still has the whip Connor carried to victory in that race.
At that time, Vanstone became a fan of the New Zealand champ Caduceus which carried colours of black with a red and white check sash. When he wanted his own colours, he changed the black to blue and kept the red and white check sash. They were colours carried to victory multiple times and are still used today by his former son-in-law Jamie Braidwood.
Under the guidance of Digger Connor, Vanstone branched out on a training career in the 60s and his first horse was Wyeuro Chief which scored a first-up win for trainer-driver at Port Pirie and so the Vanstone team was on the path to glory.
The Vanstone horses went on to be Wayville legends.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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