How Many Vets does it take to enjoy our Annual Melbourne Cup Breakfast?
If you answered 4, you are close but no cigar! (see answer as the end of this short report)
Our guest speakers at this year's Melbourne Cup breakfast were Peter Symons and Brett Hunt and they regaled members and friends with various anecdotes, around the theme “Are Jockeys a Necessary Evil”. Dunbar.
They also judged the “best dressed’ outfit and awarded it to Gordon
Peter told us that the first thing successful jockeys learn is how to lie, and they especially enjoy lying to the stipendiary stewards who police the race meetings. Famous Perth jockey JJ Millar made a point of never cooperating with the stewards, and did all he could to be the main focus of race day and constantly seek fame and recognition. Like most successful jockeys JJ struggled to keep his weight down, and took to wearing a plastic track suit when training and covering his body in salt when in the sauna. When asked what his best weight-loss diet was, he said: Crushed ice on lettuce!
Jockeys can also make a lot of money, legitimately, and possibly the most successful one in recent times was Damian Oliver who was already worth $1.5m when he finished his apprenticeship. When asked what drove him to succeed he said: The Thrill of winning. Damian Oliver’s successful record is worth reading, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Oliver
In Peter Symon’s view, being a successful jockey requires courage and judgement, and they need to be tough as someone is always criticising them. Some self control when being questioned by the stewards might help them avoid suspension. In one incident Peter recounted, the Chief Steward asked the jockey where he learned to ride, after losing the race on the favourite. His angry reply was: On your sister!
There were lots of others funny stories recounted but they were not fit for publication!
There was 6 vets at the breakfast, 4 veterinarians, PLUS 2 service veterans - Chris Dawson and David Palmer! Which is a reminder to come to our Day-Late Remembrance Day Breakfast on 12 November, and meet our guest speaker, former RAN Commander John Scott, Vice-President of Torchbearers for Legacy, WA.
Click here for meeting photos