As we drove into Oakey in southern Queensland, we couldn’t help notice a great looking, life size bronze horse statue proudly standing outside the modern Oakey Service Centre building. As horse lovers from way back, we just had to stop and check it out. On investigation we found that this was a memorial to the area’s most famous sporting icon and one of Australia’s best known race horses – the legendary Bernborough, who was an undisputed champion back in the 1940s.
Records show that this outstanding thoroughbred stallion often carried heavyweights (up to 68 kg) to victory, including a sequence of 15 consecutive wins (from six to eleven furlongs) during his illustrious career.
Bernborough was foaled at Rosalie Plains near Oakey in 1939 with a bloodline going back to Gainsborough, the winner of the English Triple Crown in 1918. Amongst his many wins were the Newmaker Handicap, Futurity Stakes, The Doomben 10,000 and the Doomben Cup. In all, Bernborough had 37 starts for 26 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third. He is one of the five inaugural inductees into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. After the conclusion of his splendid racing career, Bernborough was retired to stud in the US where he sired many winners and was rated highly in the leading sire list of North America. He died in 1960.
Adjacent to the Bernborough statue in Oakey is a small stand with a push-button operated audio, recording some of the highlights of Bernborough’s race track record, including the ‘race call’ of a couple of the champion’s most famous races. More information on Bernborough can be found in the Oakey library.
After checking out a few other attractions around Oakey, including a great lunch at Bernborough Hotel (strategically located opposite the Bernborough statue), we continued our travels through this Western Downs region of Queensland.
Next day we drove into Goondiwindi and there on the banks of the MacIntyre River in Apex Park opposite the town’s Visitor Information Centre, was a statue of the Goodiwindi Grey – yes, another legend of the track – the mighty Gunsynd.
Whilst there was no push-button audio to be found here, a quick check of the nearby Gunsynd Museum (part of the Visitor Information Centre) reveals a wealth of information about their town legend. Also on display here is a number of Gunsynd’s winning trophies, photos, rugs, newspaper cuttings and plenty of other memorabilia about his career.
Although he was foaled in 1967 in New South Wales, Gunsynd’s owners came from Goondiwindi (Queensland) and it didn’t take long for this good looking stallion (pale grey colour) to become affectionately known as the ‘Goondiwindi Grey’!
Among Gunsynd’s many successes were the Cox Plate and the four big mile races – the Doncaster, the Epsom, the George Adams and the Toorak Handicaps all in one season (1972). He is the only horse in Australian racing history to achieve this feat. He was named Australian champion racehorse for the 1972-1973 season.
Gunsynd was always a favourite with the crowd due to his striking grey appearance, his charismatic behaviour and his tremendous determination to win. In all, during his career from1969 to 1973, Gunsynd had 54 starts for 29 wins, 7 seconds and 8 thirds. It is still claimed that Gunsynd was the best grey galloper in Australian history. For part of his career, Gunsynd was trained by the legendary Tommy (T.J.) Smith. He was retired to stud in 1973 and at the age of 16 died of cancer. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2005.
Around town there is a number of ‘namesake’ places to eat and stay, including the beaut Gunsynd Bakery, the Gundy Star Tourist Park and the Gunsynd Motor Inn. Even the town sign on the outskirts of Goondiwindi features a cheeky photo of Gunsynd!
As a tribute to this mighty horse, famous country music singer Tex Morton recorded a song, ‘The Goondiwindi Grey’, which is still sung in country music festivals around the country.
As we drove out of town I was still shaking my head. What a wonderful experience – I really couldn’t believe it – we had quite unexpectedly encountered two Aussie legends in two beaut little towns in just two days. Is it any wonder we love travelling around this great country of ours.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Oakey is located 42 km northwest of Toowoomba.
- Goondiwindi is located 225 km southwest of Toowoomba.
- Bernborough information:
Oakey Tourist Information Centre – Warrego Highway, Oakey – phone (07) 4691 1595
Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernborough
- Gunsynd Information:
Goodiwindi Visitor Information Centre, McLean Street, Goondiwindi – phone (07) 4671 2653
Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunsynd