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Although he is practically an unknown identity as far as modern metropolitan racegoers are con cerned, Arthur Buchanan, who trained a winner at Mentone last Saturday, has had more experience with horses than many of Melbourne's leading trainers of today. He accumulated it during a long term as amateur rider and trainer in the North-Western and North-Eastern districts of Vic toria and as long as 40 years ago was recognised as a force to be reckoned with at country meetings. TRUCHANAN, whose years rest very lightly upon him, can look back on career as a country Uainer which, for success, has sel dom been equalled and probably a never surpassed Many time he could have set himself up as a public trainer in Melbourne but he preferred the Tree and easy life of the man with a useful team of horses capable of winning at one country track today—another tomorrow In this manner he made the Tounds, year after year, of meet ings in various parts of the State, winning a double at this place, a treble at that, and he and his+ ponies quickly established a repu tation for consistent appearances and successes In those days trainers were péer=|_ milted to ride as amateur jockeys. Buchanan was one of this cate gory and he invariably rode his own horses when he could make the weight. He recalls today with, pardon able pride the day he “rode the programme” (all events but the trot) on the little bush course au Grenville. One of those successes was on his pony, Bardie, only 133 fands high but a “giant” in his class. Bardie subsequently was taken to Sydney, where he proved him self against the “Little ‘uns off the 14.3 brigade. Six In Two Days In those days horses were not “coddled’” as they are now. Th was nothing to see one of the hardier types race—and win—three times In one afternoon. B uchanan himself had a mare called Merry Molly with which he ‘won six races in two days—a treble at Yinnar (near Moe) and an other on the following day at Foster! For the past 20 years Buchanan has held 4 metropolitan trainer's Yeenee, but Up to a short time ago did not taken full advantage of it, preparing a horse or two UN Repwite camel prices BM “une ‘uh toed, eetaneed TL Gray. ta with 8 GA Eomaate Server during time he could spare from his business in the Oskleigh dis trict Recently, however, he has added to his team and is again taking the training game seriously. Last Saturday he won the Scar borough Handicap (for one-year olds) with Veileme, a mare with which two other trainers had tried in vain to win a race. Buchanan fs a great believer in road work f or horses as against fast track gallops and he brought the Vell mond mare to winning form with solid and ‘consistent exercise around the hills of Oakleigh. Even at his age and weight auchanan thinks nothing of tak ing the saddle himself, and rode his steeplechaser, Sir Balios, in all of his work @ couple of ‘seasons|
Newspaper Details
Melbourne Weekly Times
Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Wed, Apr 12, 1944
Page 13
Full Page
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Anonymous
AU 01 Sep 2026
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