By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
It might have been a low-ranked maiden pace, but race 11 at ‘The Triangle’ last Wednesday paid a tribute to an 81-year-old harness racing stalwart, who is the club’s longest serving person affiliated to the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club.
Robyne Joseph took up her position as the secretary of the RHRC in June 1964 – just six years after a local construction company was forced to design a ”three-straight” track for the Club due to land constraints, and because of the closeness of houses and businesses.
On May 3, 1964, Ms Joseph arrived in Scarborough on a three-week holiday from her job in the office at Harold Park, but she never went back to her Sydney job.
So how appropriate it was this week (June 12) that the last event – the Robyne Joseph 60 Years Affiliated With The RHRC Maiden Pace, was named in her honour.
For 60 years of the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club’s 66-year history (situated at the unique racetrack on the corners of Oxley Avenue, Monica Street, Knight Street, and Gommersall Street), Ms Joseph has been a part of it all.
Since 1966 she has lived just a stone’s throw (see photo) from the Redcliffe turn going out of the home straight. In fact, Monica and Knight Streets both house stables.
“When I finished as Secretary of the RHRC in 1982 (after 17-and-a-half years) I used to keep 10 horses (eight outside) at my home. You weren’t allowed to hold a licence while being employed by a Racing Club back then, so I resumed my career when I finished as secretary,” Ms Joseph said.
“We only came up here for a three-week holiday originally and stayed in Scarborough. I have done a lot since we got here all those years ago, and a race named after me meant a lot. Sadly, Race 11 (9.49pm) was just too late for me to get on track and watch Hunger Strike and Nathan Dawson win it. I’d also been to the doctors earlier that day. It was a shame because I’ve known Nathan since he was 13,” she added.
But Ms Joesph, has been more than just the Club Secretary over her six decades.
“I lived so close so if they needed me I was there. I think I’ve done every job you could think of on a racetrack, except for clerk of course and that was because I didn’t have a horse at the time. I helped with the construction of many buildings at Redcliffe Paceway as well as allocating all the stables.
“I called a race once when the commentator was late. I even assisted Ron O’Brien with the first ever mobile gate designed here. We even gave the Club our truck when their water one broke down,” Ms Joseph said.
“I was engaged to Ron, and he was the only man I’ve ever been involved with. Sadly, he was tragically killed at the end of our street three weeks before night trotting was introduced in January 1973. That’s when my father took over as a hobby-trainer. I oversaw what he did. Dad couldn’t drive,” she added.
Ms Joseph was made a life member just over a decade ago. After she left her position in the early 1980s she resurrected her driving career.
Educated at Gladesville Public School in Metropolitan Sydney, and born and being raised in that metropolitan suburb of Australia’s largest city, didn’t stop her love of horses.
“In the late 1940s and early 1950s when I was about four, my parents (Ken and Lillian) used to take me to Warren where I could ride ponies and then when I was 12 my parents let me work in stables. I was an only child.
“My parents actually owned a wine bar in Sydney. It was a different life but I’m so thankful they allowed me to have horses in my life. I loved horses so much I used to ride my pony from Rosehill to Granville return (5.2km) on a Sunday. Sometimes I wouldn’t get back until 7pm.
“I also drove mini trotters as a kid behind Shetland ponies and remember being seldom beaten. I did a lot of show riding in New South Wales, and finished second three times at the Sydney Royal Show. I was Champion at Sydney and as far as Nowra.
“Dad knew Phar Lap’s jockey Jimmy Pike pretty well. They used to talk at the races. I was actually the only child permitted to attend night trotting meetings at Harold Park in the early 1950s. The Leichardt Council didn’t want children at race meetings after 6pm, but I got an exemption when I was nine.
“That was because local horsemen and harness racing people signed a petition for me to get in. Dad used to carry me through like a child when I was eight and the course detective turned a blind eye because he knew how much I loved horses and how much the racing people realised that and liked my youthful enthusiasm, and love of horses as well. I started racing in 1958.
Ms Joseph left school when she was 15 in the late 1950s and worked at Harold Park for the New South Wales Trotting Club for five years.
“The people at Harold Park knew me as the only child permitted at night trotting meetings and I think that’s how I was offered the job. I hardly slept a night and it was Queen’s Birthday Weekend and I didn’t sleep for the three nights leading up to my new job. I was too excited. I couldn’t wait for Tuesday to come around. My first job was my dream job with horses.
“I used to name the horses. I loved that and then when Dad (who also trained and drove horses) had a broken arm, we all jumped in the car, headed to Scarborough (2.8km from Redcliffe) and haven’t looked back since.
“It was while we were holidaying here that I saw an advertisement in the Redcliffe Herald wanting a Secretary for the Redcliffe Trotting Club. I had five years with Harold Park and they appointed me as Redcliffe secretary in June 1964.
“Then when I got the Redcliffe job Mum and Dad went home and soon after sold their house in Sydney and started again with me up here. My job wanted me to come back to Sydney, but I took a chance and stayed,” Ms Joseph said.
“Jimmy had earlier come to Redcliffe to retire here. He bought a nice place on the water-front. His exact words to me when I asked him about Queensland were: ‘Stay here, you will fall on your feet’.”
Jimmy is Jimmy Caffyn leading trainer and driver in Sydney when Ms Joseph was cutting her teeth.
“He taught me a lot and was an early mentor down south and then later an advisor for me up here. I had some nice horses over the years. I can’t remember the name of my first Rocklea win, but Fonzie Overdene was not only my first Queensland city winner but he was also one of the best horses I drove.
“But I’ll never forget Scandalous either. Jimmy sent her up to me. She was the best I had because she won three Oaks for us. They were the Queensland, Rocklea, and Redcliffe Oaks. A lovely 1972 Blazing Globe mare. She was later sold to America for $70,000, which was the second highest price ever fetched from Queensland at the time.
“I also had other good horses like Os Brigade (1968 Scottish Brigade entire); Stanley Hanover (1969 Thor Hanover entire); Flying Fame (1976 Knowing Fame gelding); and Fame’s Command (1978 Knowing Fame gelding),” Ms Joseph said.
“I only sold all my gear a couple of years ago. Yes I do miss the racing a lot, but I walk through the track every day and I also like to get the fields on race-day. I live so close and Redcliffe will always be a part of me. I was so proud to have a race named in my honour, and to be the club’s longest serving member,” Ms Joseph said.
Club President Bernie Ring said it was only appropriate the RHRC name a race in Ms Joseph’s honour.
“Robyne has given so much to our Club over the longest time, and her sterling work over six decades has not gone un-noticed. We value everything that Robyne has done for us, especially the early foundations and the future direction of the RHRC.
“It was appropriate that the current Australian champion driver Nathan Dawson won Robyn’s race for one of the State’s best trainers – Graham Dwyer. From everyone here at the Club congratulations, thank-you, and well-done Robyn,” Ring said.
Meanwhile race commentator, Anthony Callins said it was an honour to call Ms Joseph’s race. In fact, just prior to his call at 9.49pm, he reminded the public of a quote he was told many years ago.
“If you are in trouble on the punt, back Robyne Joseph in the last. She will see you right.’ That quote actually came from Craig Rail. I remember him using that years ago when he used to do his Friday night wrap-up on radio. I think there was a mare of Robyne’s named More Jewels. It was a race I was in and I remember Craig distinctly talking about it.
“Maybe even Kelvin Sharman back in those days too, when he used to be on air with him on a Friday night to talk about the meeting that had just unfolded. Robyne was always a reliable bet if you were down to the last race and if you needed somebody to get you out of trouble, you would always back Robyne Joseph in the last race,” Collins said.
For the record: Ms Joseph’s colours were green, with yellow spots, and yellow cap.
