“TOP OF THE STRAIGHT”
I remember when I was sitting at the top of the straight at one of Australia’s top country tracks watching the components of a race entail, the sight was sore as the barriers broke, the silk dug hard pushing for the folk, they found the bend and settled to turn, as the announcer rolled down off the paddock into the burn, she sat one two, three or four off the lead, the leader was singing giving them plenty, but she broke that mould that day she did, she turned for home without even a bid, she strode, she bowled, she even took to the bat, but the stumps were old, she even looked fat, this horse this horse of mine, she came within whiskers, she gave it her all and came up with blisters, the race was mine I had the ticket till she stopped at the fifty and left me with a biscuit — the day had been said that rolling with horses a hope that’s a dream which is given with steam on that there day when I found my old grey she was all that I had but could never match me missus
Top of the straight — background
There’s a couple of things I remember from my trips to Taree after driving the 3hrs one-way from Sydney to get to the track to watch the old mans horse go round, Rolling Crown he was called he ended up racing out at King Island if that gives you an indication on his ability — but i loved making the trip up from Sydney to find these country tracks tucked away in the serenity of the Australian landscape — In between races I went out to the car to roll a joint back when i used to smoke the stuff.. I remember the stewards following me out to the car with my brother being a new trainer on the scene from the city.. anyway they saw me going through the boot and jumping into the front seat obviously time permitting till the next race jumped i was able to roll one out and go and light one up up at the 300m mark where nobody was around.. watching the race from in between gum trees on the outside fence i drew inspiration with the horses running back across the top paddocks and into the true section of the track — i remember watching a young apprentice in the race being pushed along, as to which i think he only had a few rides under his belt at the time — the senior jocks were urging him through the race getting him to go through the gears and instructing him when to drive to the line from the turn it was great spectacle seeing the old heads mentor this young bloke as they all picked up and went for home something i’ll always remember and it gave me inspiration to write this poem..