I thought this a lovely tribute to Ken, especially with the passing of Beryl White last weekend.
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I have always been a hoarder of old
newspaper clippings relating to horse racing. Ironically, on the very
day before the Ken Russell Memorial was being staged at Callaghan Park
last Friday week, I came across this gem published in the Gold Coast
Bulletin in 1984.
It was the report on the Rockhampton colt Golf Field winning the
Golden Nugget Stakes (1200m) ridden by Ken Russell when trained by
Lottie Lisle, wife of the jockey Colin (Lizard) Lisle. It was one of
seven Golden Nuggets (forerunner in those days to the Magic Millions)
that the late great jockey was to win. Incidentally, K.Russell was to
ride two Magic Millions winners in Sea Cabin and Malibu Magic.
The Ken Russell story is as well known as Ken himself was acclaimed.
From Monto where his father Gordon, a retired jockey trained, Ken never
served an apprenticeship which was denied by the RJC (Principal Racing
Club) at the time.
Aged 20, he had ridden as an amateur jockey for his father before in
1972 the RJC granted him a fully fledged jockeys license. His first
professional jockey race winner was Frosty Val at the now defunct Banana
racecourse on June 24, 1972.
Who would have ever envisaged in a whirlwind career of just 21 years
the racing world would become the “Monto Marvel’s” oyster? Ken rode 1804
winners including seven at GR 1 level. He won 14 jockey premierships at
various jurisdictions in QLD and NSW. Adding icing to the cake, Ken
Russell rode four winners in a day 24 times and a treble on 106
occasions! Not to mention riding the program on another occasion at
Thangool.
A champion on and off the track, Ken Russell was held in the highest
esteem during his 42 years on earth and 21 on racecourses both
throughout Australia, Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia where success
greeted him. Among his many illustrious victories was that of Euclase
winning the GR 1 1992 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) in Adelaide. Ken rode
numerous winners for Euclase’s owners Sydney’s Geoff and Beryl White in
their famous livery of white, purple star and hooped sleeves.
Beryl White, who continued her late husband’s participation in
thoroughbred breeding, died aged 88 on Sunday of this week. Those
colours (now slightly faded) are depicted on the monument sculpture of
Ken on display in a garden setting to the left of the Callaghan Park
racecourse entry gates in Rockhampton. The monument was commissioned not
long after Ken’s tragic race fall death at Rosehill on October 9, 1993.
Ken’s poignant funeral ceremony was held in Monto with the
pallbearers being some of Australia’s top jockeys of the era. His
sculpture was prominently displayed in Monto until moved to Callaghan
Park racecourse, Rockhampton in 2016.
So next time you enter Callaghan Park racecourse glance to the near
side and embellish the lifelong memories Ken Russell provided the racing
industry and particularly Rockhampton. After all Ken always revered
winning the 1980 Rockhampton Cup on Panard trained by his father Gordon.
The Gold Coast Turf Club, where Ken derived his moniker “King of the
Coast”, as well as the RJC stage a Ken Russell Memorial annually. Ken
still has family and friends including Peter and Liam Goody of the
Rockhampton race’s sponsor Rockhampton Mini Loads living around the
district. So too for that matter are relatives and friends of Golf
Field’s connections the Colin Lisle family.
I sincerely hope this accompanying newspaper clipping and photos and
my words invigorate cherished memories for them as well as all lovers of
racing. As is said – “to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die”,
Thomas Campbell (1777-1844).
HOOFNOTE: Coincidently, on the same day I discovered the paper
clipping I entered Callaghan Park and observed Stephen Bryant
volunteering his time to caringly scrub and clean the Ken Russell
monument. Thank you Stephen and thank you Ken Russell.
Tony McMahon