Party time as punters show love for hero
THE Errol Sewell- trained Party King captured the imagination of northern racegoers with his three consecutive Townsville Cup wins from 2000- 02.
Huge crowds flocked to Cluden Park to witness his history- making feat, which most pundits believe will never be matched.
Such was Party King’s impact on the Townsville Cup, the public grandstand at Cluden now carries his name.
Party King was purchased for $ 16,000 by Sydney trainer John O’Shea for his father Bernie and four friends to race, with the northern cups in mind. The then 10- year- old’s third consecutive Townsville Cup win, by just a nose, was his final race start with the owners deciding it was time for him to retire.
Racecaller Tony Wode was behind the microphone for all of Party King’s cup wins.
“He became a bit of a hero and had a huge following,” Mr Wode said.
“No horse had ever won three and the fact he won them on the trot meant that the young racegoers in those days, if they did not know any other horse, would go and back Party King.
“He was the one they won a few bob on.” Mr Wode said no one who was at Cluden the day Party King won his third Cup would ever forget the moment he was judged the winner after a photo finish.
“When he won his third one it was a huge thing because he only just got there and he was not going as well leading up to the Cup,” Mr Wode said.
“Somehow he loved Cup day and he seemed to find something.
“Errol knew the horse inside and out and had him timed perfectly.
“When that number went up the mob just went off.
“It was an unforgettable moment really.”