By Duane Ranger (Courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Wamuran horseman, Terry Hancock, vividly remembers hanging out with his cousins Brian and Richard Hancock in Junee – just on half a century ago.
“I remember when I was about 15, I used to jog horses with Brian at the Junee Showgrounds. Our families were close. Brian’s father Cyril had horses and my father was Cecil.
“Our families had some great times in Junee, before Brian and Richard moved to Sydney to train,” Mr Hancock said.
While Brian went on to become the ‘Interdominion King’ largely through the deeds of Our Sir Vancelot, Mr Hancock opted for a career driving for local Councils, and training standardbreds part-time.
“I have always had a small team of standardbreds. Also, while my son Raymond was a jockey, I had a few thoroughbreds as well.
“I have bred quite a lot of standardbreds, and bought a few over the years – including several from New Zealand. We still get a lot of our horses through Darren (Richard’s son) and my nephew, Gary – of Young Mister Charles fame, who he trained to win the 1995 Interdominion at Addington Raceway,” Mr Hancock said.
According to Racing Queensland’s latest records, Mr Hancock had trained 219 winners since December 1982 – six of them this season, and two of them in the one day at Redcliffe Paceway last Thursday.
“I thought they would both win. Subtle Advice went well for Narissa (McMullen) the start before, and Having The Faith, is a former Mark Purdon-trained New Zealand pacer, that is still to reach his full potential yet,” Mr Hancock said.
Subtle Advice (7) and Zac Chappenden sat in the trail throughout race eight. They then pounced along the passing lane to win by 2.1 metres.
Half an hour later, Having The Faith (2) and Chappenden sat parked and then simply out-toughed their opponents to win the ninth event by half-a-neck. Their respective mile rates for 1780m mobiles were 1:59.1 and 1:58.5 respectively.
“I think Having The Faith has more ability than the other one. Mark (Purdon) paid a nice price for him at the Yearling Sales in New Zealand and he won one of his three starts there before coming to Australia. That’s nine all-up for him now,” Mr Hancock said.
Brian’s son, Darren, trained him for a while then sent him to Melbourne, then asked if we would ‘muck around with him, as we have more time’.
“I treat my horses like pets. They are part of the family. I love them and will always treat them that way. I only gallop this fella. He’s not the type of horse you can argue with, so you just have to let him do his thing.
“Having The Faith is an Art Major gelding out of a nice New Zealand Christian Cullen mare (Christian Party) and he is only 5, and I don’t think any of us have seen his full potential yet. Glenn Holland owns him,” Mr Hancock said.
He said he paid $6,000 for the now 10-year-old pacer Subtle Advice at the 2013 Sydney ASPG Sale.
“We liked the horse because he was an Armbro Operative. My wife, Dell and Richard (Hancock) bought him while I nipped away from the sale ring.
“Dell asked Richard which one to buy and he advised her to bid on him and that’s where the horse’s name comes from,” he joked.
Mr Hancock said Subtle Advice had now won 19 of his 236 starts, placed in 40 others, and banked $114,446.
“He’s been a lovely old horse to us, and is always treated with gentleness and the best possible care. Don (son) and I have got eight in work and Subtle Delight is the best of them.
“He’s an ‘open classer’ just about to return to the track after last racing in February. He has won 22 races ($179,792) and boasts a 1:58.8 mile rate,” Mr Hancock said.
The Hancock team also boasts The Reaper (nine wins and $66,597), Aurora (eight wins from 23 starts and $33,476), Simone De Beauvoir (two wins) and Doubletap (one third from 10 starts).
“Aurora is a lovely Lucky Chucky trotting filly, who won seven of her first 10 starts. Doubletap ran fourth at Albion Park on Friday and shows a bit of potential, while The Reaper and Simon De Beauvoir will line up at Albion Park on Tuesday.
“The Reaper has drawn four – one outside his stablemate, Simone De Beauvoir, who has drawn three, in the same race,” Mr Hancock said.
Mr Hancock was born and educated in Junee. He worked on the Railways in that town before joining his parents in Sydney where he worked for the local Council.
“I actually left school when I was 14 and had about eight to 10 years on the Council before we relocated to Redcliffe in 1981.
“I’ve always had a horse or two, and when we first relocated north, we lived in Knight Street adjacent to the track for 15 years.
“Then we moved to Woodford and now live at Wamuran – not far from the Caboolture Showgrounds,” Mr Hancock said.
“We have 20 acres here and Don and I train our team on our 680m track. We have had many horses over the years.
“Cindy Condor won all the heats of the Triad and then broke in the Final. Billy Benson did win our biggest race though – in the Qbred 4-Year-Old Final,” Mr Hancock said.
The Hancocks have two sons – Donald and Raymond. Donald not only trains his own horses but helps his dad with his as well.
Don also trained and drove for many years, but gave up driving due to work commitments, but still trains. Raymond, a recently retired successful country jockey, and was forced out due to injuries from race riding.
“We have been very lucky to have won metropolitan winners in greyhounds, harness and thoroughbred racing,” Mr Hancock said.
“Racing has been in my blood a lifetime and it always will be,” the 73-year-old added.
