Long retired trainer Tommy Dawson (pictured just a few weeks ago by Dan Costello at a function at Eagle Farm) trained Charlton Boy to almost win three Doomben 10,000's.

The Doomben 10,000 which will be run and won next Saturday at Doomben, was first run way back in 1933 when a lightweight named Wallum carrying just 7 stone 2 pounds (45.5 kgs) beat Closing Time who had the steadier of 9 stone 3 pounds (58.5 kgs) in a time of 1.12.5.

The Doomben 10,000 is today run over 1350 metres, but it has had many distance changes in its 77-year history. It was run at 6 furlongs (1200 metres) from 1933 to 1945, at 7 furlongs less 93 yards from 1946 to 1964, at 7 furlongs less 68 yards from 1965 to 1972 and at 1350 metres ever since. During the years of the Second World War between 1942 and 1945 it was run over 7 furlongs (1400 metres) on the sand track at Albion Park.

Today the race is run at weight-for-age, but it was a handicap event until 1997.

What I thought I’d do today for readers is reproduce the 27 year history of the race between 1960 and 1987 inclusive. That period of the race I can reproduce from a copy of the “Ampol Australian Sporting Records” that used to come out annually, for some years, back in the 1980’s - but sadly it is now defunct.

The information contained in the 1988 edition I bought brand new at a book store for $4.95, reduced from $39.95, contains an amazing insight into 68 sports, as diverse as the three codes of racing, rough riding, wrestling, polo, hang gliding, billiards and so on and so forth.

Their 1988 edition – I don’t think there was ever a later one published - contains rare information on thoroughbred racing, in fact it is far more detailed information than you can find in say a Millers Guide.

In 1988 the following was stated in the Ampol Australian Sporting Book of Records in respect of the Doomben 10,000:

Please note that the race was run using imperial weights of stone and pounds - up to and including 1972, but I have converted them to metric weights for the purpose of the article.

There are many interesting points we can note from that 27-year history of the race like:

1) We can see the great rivalry that existed between Charlton Boy and Bengalla Lad in the 1972-1974 versions of the race. Charlton Boy won one and ran second in another two. Bengalla Lad won one and ran second in another.

2) In a remarkable occurrence, when Maybe Mahal won the race in 1977 she became the first mare to win the Doomben 10,000 - since its inception in 1933 – and that’s 44 years.

3) Black Onyx won the race in 1969 with 54.5 then he was successful again the following year carrying 4.5 kilos more.

4) The classy stallion Aquanita travelled from Western Australia to win the Doomben 10,000 in 1962. Breeding guru Brian Russell, a regular contributor to the website, told me some years ago that the stud that Aquanita stood at in Western Australia when he retired to stud there didn’t bother furnishing details of his matings to the Stud Book, owing to the geographic location of Western Australia, what with it being so far from everywhere else. Now it’s just a few hours in a plane from Brisbane.

5) Jockeys George Moore, Mick Dittman, John Marshall and Mel Schumacher all rode multiple winners of the race in the 27-years that are reviewed.

6) Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings and Fil Allotta were the only trainers to train multiple winners of the race in the 27 year timeframe above.

7) Stallions Smokey Eyes, Bluescope and Pipe of Peace sired winners of two or more Doomben 10,000's in the 27 year period.

8) Todwana ran a dead heat second to the classy Victorian Winfreux in 1965 - then in his later life at stud, he sired 1976 winner Burwana. In respect of Burwana, I thought a chap named Norm (Darby) Hopkins from Dalby trained the horse, when he won the Doomben 10,000 - but I must be wrong, as the Ampol book says a “K. Hayes” trained the galloper.

9) Highly respected racing personality Bill Lenehan, who was laid to rest just last week in Brisbane, owned 1967 runner-up Symbolize.

10) My late grandfather Frank Purser taught a kid called Con Doyle in a primary school in the Lockyer Valley. Con Doyle remained close friends with particularly my grandmother for their entire life and Con trained 1970 third placegetter Mister Hush. In 1967 Mister Hush won the Stradbroke, ridden by a kid named Lyle Rowe. These days Lyle is a trainer based in Rockhampton.

11) Regal Vista ran third in 1969. The galloper later that same year featured in a famous ring-in in Victoria. Ridden by Stephen Wood, Regal Vista raced as Royal School when he won the Muntham Handicap at Casterton on May 12, 1972. Regal Vista was backed from 25/1 to 7/4, but the dud was discovered and the race was awarded to the horse that had clocked in second – Apex Star.

12) Blue’s Finito won the Doomben 10,000 in 1978. He was named Blue’s Finito after his sire Bluescope died the morning he was born. The Blue’s part was the first part of Bluescope and the Finito part is Italian slang for dead.

In other Brisbane Winter Carnival racing news, New Zealand website contributor Neil Davis from the popular www.formpro.co.nz website has contacted me last night in order to help get the news out that top New Zealand jockey David Walsh will be in Brisbane next Saturday to ride both Sir Time Keeper and Sir Slick at Doomben - and he will also be available for other rides at the meeting, so any owner or trainer who would like to have a top New Zealand rider on their horse next Saturday can contact David direct on his New Zealand mobile 6421429231, or alternatively they can email Neil Davis at formpro@formpro.co.nz – and Neil will get in touch with David for you quickly. David can ride at 54 kilos.