A strapper showed true grit, going above the call of duty when playing his part in the victory of In Evidence at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
In Evidence pulled his strapper off his feet in the mounting yard and, with the strapper steadfastly refusing to let go of the rein, dragged his handler halfway across the parade ring as some amongst the shocked bystanders yelled for the strapper to let go.
He wouldn’t!
I guess if you think you have got a winner, you had better hold on to it … and the strapper’s determination was rewarded when he eventually reined the horse in, regained his feet and the pair then continued to complete the pre-race parade as if nothing had happened.
In Evidence’s subsequently saluted at double-figure odds to put an exclamation mark on a very out-of-the-ordinary winning story.
Richard Hall is that very dedicated strapper.
“Everybody knows me as ‘Megsy’ in the racing game. That’s because I’ve got red hair and wouldn’t answer to blue,” said Hall.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t let go of the horse. I was just going whoa mate, whoa. I call him by his nickname Hank.
“He went backwards across the centre of the ring on the grass taking me with him, but once he got his back feet on the path they walk on … on the other side of the mounting yard, he just stood, let me get up … and then walked around like he had done nothing wrong.
“Every lap we did after that, you could see thinking, cop this … I’m a clown, I’m a show-off … every lap!
“And then he went out and won the race.”
“Yeah, I’ve pulled up alright … I think. I had to get back to Rocky from Brisbane, so I haven’t cooled down yet, so I still might pull up a bit stiff and sore … but there is no bark off, no bruises or anything.
“I’d do it again. I just grabbed the horse and did the right thing … and then he won.
“It was all a team effort.”
That is true … and Megsy certainly played his part.
