On July 14 2016, a large gathering of people who met in James Cook Boys Technology High School to acknowledge my history of Moorefield Racecourse , also had a wonderful afternoon of racing history. Moorefield Racecourse was a wonderful subject to research, write and then publish. It is an important part of our local history. Information continues to come forward for which i am grateful. Maybe, in another few years i will have to do a second edition.
On October 13 2016, my hard copy book was launched at Moorefield Bowling Club , French Street , Kogarah. There were many horse stables in French Street, Kogarah. My Facebook site continues to be capably updated by Leesha. I acknowledge her hard work in managing this site. The site is now up to 134 likes.
On January 23 2019, at St Patricks Green Retirement Village, Kogarah Bob Hallett and i had a soft launch of our 2 hour CD on Moorefield Racecourse . We had started our intensive work in late August 2018 . Georges River Council kindly assisted this process with a grant. The official launch was in Kogarah Library at the end of April 2019. All Georges River Council branches have copies and there is a copy in Bayside Council head library at Rockdale. The State Library has a copy.
In early July 2020 a gentleman, who grew up in Marshall Street, Kogarah contacted me. Mark visited Kogarah Library to view the Marshall Street section of the CD, as he plans to reproduce “the Marshall Street of the past” using a CAD programme. Fortunately, he is an engineer and has the skills to do this. His father, at age 75, has a good memory – we all hope to meet in approximately a month. Mark has some photos of Marshall Street from his family, and also from contacts (former students) on the Moorefield Girls High School ex-students site.
The updated post on my website annefield.net.au –in the Moorefield category, on Australian Jockeys Riding in India, Ceylon and Pakistan has been very well viewed, both in Australia and overseas. My tracker reveals reads in Sri Lanka, many parts of India, USA, England, New Zealand, Hong Kong etc. It was from this article that i heard in April 2019 from Gopi Selvarathram in Dubai and then his brother, Dhruba in Ireland. Their father, grandfather and uncle employed Australian jockeys in India, Ceylon and Pakistan. Such a wonderful connection, historically. And when international travel resumes i plan to visit Dubai. Recently, a lady contacted me to tell me that her father rode in Pakistan. I am looking forward to receiving some more details on this time, as i learned from Gopi, in 2019 that Australian jockeys rode in Pakistan.
For the time being, I can only construct an accurate list of these jockeys and the countries they rode in. I welcome information and corrections. Heritage at the Australian Turf Club in Sydney have few records on most of these jockeys –sadly they have slipped through the cracks of history. Well – known jockeys, such as Edgar Britt, have information on their overseas riding careers. Historically, they were Australia’s first international jockeys, and they must be recorded somehow. Each Melbourne Cup we see jockeys, who have flown in from many parts of the world to ride in this prestigious race. The jockeys, in the past, may have taken 6 weeks to reach Ceylon, India, Pakistan by ship. Their times in these countries no doubt would have been interesting.
In April 2020, 4 You Tubes were posted on various aspects of Moorefield History – the first one covered locational features , then my interview with Dawn Coutts, who rode track work under the radar , then 87 year old former resident, Russell Town, who had an amazing memory and then my interview with Cliff Clare, former Moorefield jockey. All wonderful racing history.
In May 2020, I had delivered to me the presentation board from the Peter Moore Cup on January 6 1940 at Moorefield Racecourse. I am delighted to have it, as it was found maybe 20 years ago on a pile of rubbish, and was fortunately kept by someone who had an interest in racing. He decided recently to sell it on e –bay. Mr Battye was the owner of the winning horse, and Darby Munro was the winning jockey.
I presented a guest talk in February 2020 to the Botany Bay Family History Society at Gymea Tradies. Due to Covid 19, all my other talks have been cancelled.
A special thanks to racing historian, Graham Caves for his on going help.
I look forward in the future to “matters Moorefield.”
Anne Field
Kogarah
PO BOX 391 Kogarah 2217
Email ko77582@bigpond.net.au
