By Duane Ranger (Courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Through no fault of their own a lot of 77-year-olds can’t walk, let alone regularly whiz around a racetrack at 40-plus kilometres per hour.
But Mrs Rhonda Aldons is an exception. In fact, the fighting fit Victorian native, who was born in Condah at the end of the Second World War in 1945, trains a team of 10 with her son, Ben, at Logan Village.
Harness Australia records show that Mrs Aldons has only trained her 51 winners and 142 place-getters ($144,359) since the 1982/83 season.
There’s actually a lot more because Mrs Aldons has trained in partnership with her brother Errol Cain and son Ben for many years.
However, the experienced Logan Village horsewoman added to her tally at Redcliffe Paceway last Thursday (December 29) when she trained Jaziah to win the eighth event – The Stevie Redback Pest Control R45-R49 Pace. Her nephew Leonard Cain did the driving.
In fact, she had two starters at the meeting for a first and a second.
“Jaziah is a lovely mare, and I also own and bred her with my husband Pat. That was her six win now and her stakes have gone past $50,000. She’s not my favourite though.
“That’s Dallas Cowgirl, who ran second in race four with Leonard in the sulky again. She’s no star and for that reason I love her, because she always tries her heart out.
“She’s won five and although she’s not related to Jaziah, we bred her as well,” said Mrs Aldons who still jogs and fast-works the Aldons team at speeds of 40-plus km/h.
Former driver, and Mrs Aldons daughter, Kylie Barsby, said her mother was one of the hardest workers she knew.
“Mum hates fuss and is happy to just plod along in the background. She 100 per cent the backbone of the Aldons’ Stable,” Barsby said.
Her mother said that said while attending Portland High School in the late 1950s and early 1960s, her Dad (Len) always had a horse or two at their property.
“Then my brother Errol (Cain), who was always into horses, got the bug from the nearby Whelan family. They had some nice horses,” Mrs Aldons said.
It was while nursing that Mrs Aldons met her husband Pat. They married in 1971 and a year later relocated to Queensland.
Dr Aldons is now a highly qualified Medicine Specialist at Prince Charles Hospital in North Brisbane. See Footnote below.
“Pat used to have a galloping license but now only breeds and races them. I enjoy being around horses. They are like my five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren – they keep me young,” Mrs Aldons said.
She explained that once the Aldons’ babies were broken in they were sent to four-time champion Victorian trainer, Peter Manning, for early education, qualifying, and racing.
“We usually get them back after they race down south. Jaziah, who turns five today (Sunday), came back to us from Peter’s in July 2020 after having her first 11 starts in Victoria.”
Jaziah is by New Zealand stallion Alta Christiano and is out of a Holmes Hanover mare named Our Zahhara. The Aldons have had a successful association with New Zealand over the years. They raced 2001 Australian Derby winner, City Rogue with Robin Butt.
“Town Royal (31 wins) is the best horse I have sat behind, but Lawn Glen was pretty good too until he got his stifles Cut. Then there was Downtown Lad. He was a 2002 Ultimate Falcon gelding, who won 11 races.
“He was a handy horse and family favourite. until EI (Equine influenza) ended his career. I also liked Captain Foxtrot as well. I do like Jaziah though, even though she’s not in their class.
“She’s in again at Redcliffe On Thursday. She has drawn the pole and should be tough to beat again,” Mrs Aldons said.
Jaziah, who will again be driven by Leonard Cain, has drawn one in race nine. That NR46-50 Pace kicks off at 5.07pm.
Footnote:
Dr Pat Aldons (MBBS [Monash] FRACP) has been a Consultant Physician at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane since 1979. His specialty interests are Cardio-Thoracic Medicine, particularly Infection, and Modern Wound Management.
Dr Aldons co-founded the Wound Clinic at The Prince Charles Hospital in 1991, of which he still operates, specialising in Simple and Complex Wounds.
He was one of the original instigators, in 1993, of the Queensland “Hospital in the Home” Program(s) to enable Early Discharge from Hospital with Post-Acute Care provided for several categories of patients.
Dr Aldon was Chairman of the Steering Committee which founded the Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) in 1994, now known as Wounds Australia.
Jaziah (3) hangs on to win race eight at Redcliffe Paceway last Thursday (December 29) for 77-year-old Logan Village trainer, Mrs Rhonda Aldons. She was driven by Mrs Aldons’ nephew, Leonard Cain.
What a great story and really a great inspiration to everyone to let them know age is just a number I really love this one.