Black Caviar and Winx
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
March 3, 2018 5:31pm CST
The horse has always played a huge role in the development and life of Australians, from the heavy draught horses which were used for agriculture and transport in the early days of Australia’s settlement to those that were and are used to muster stock on the outback station. And let’s not forget the 136,000 horses that were sent overseas during World War I of which only one ever returned to its home shores.
Nowadays the equestrian industry ranks among the top occupations in terms of number employed. Many of these are involved in the horse-racing industry and now Australians have a new star to idolise.
The previous thoroughbred which captured the imagination of the noation was Black Caviar who was undefeated in all of her 25 races. Twenty-two of these races were won consecutively. Black Caviar was retired in 2013.
Now, another mare, Winx, has just won her 23rd race, coming from second last to win by seven lengths. Although Winx is now five years old there are no plans to retire her yet. In fact, her jockey believes she is racing better than ever. And she has now won almost $A16 million for her owners. I haven’t been to the races in years but how thrilling it would be to watch this mare in action.
Photo from Wikimedia: Cherry He (http://www.godolphinflyingstart.com/trainees/cherry-he/) (With her permission) via Wikimedia Commons
11 people like this
11 responses
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
3 Mar 18
My six year old granddaughter loves horses. Aubrey is not racing, of course, but maybe someday she will be interested
4 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
4 Mar 18
@JudyEv What an awesome photo, nice share! When I was a little girl, one family in Grandma's town still used horses and a wagon, for traveling. The 'Hales' came into town each Saturday, to purchase groceries! I'd be elated, seeing real live horses tied up in townLOL
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Mar 18
@kobesbuddy It's hard not to be nostalgic for those days sometimes.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
12 Mar 18
Interesting that the two you mention are both mares. I always think it's a shame when a good horse is often whisked off to stud at the end of it's 3 year old career, as usually happens with the colts.
Such an awsful shame about the horses in WW1, I've read about that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 18
Winx was foaled in 2011 but her jockey thinks she is finally settling down. She doesn't seem nearly as flighty before her races as she was. I guess maybe they 'retire' the colts before they have the chance to get beaten by other better horses.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 18
@jaboUK I also find it interesting that there is no artificial insemination. I'm sure at the National Stud in Ireland they said the mating is photographed. There was some other criteria too but I can't remember what it was - but no AI.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Mar 18
What a horse she must be! I would love to see her too! 136,000 horses sent to WW I? What a huge number, and one came back. I hope there is a monument somewhere dedicated to them. I know that cavalry was still used a lot then.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 18
The powers-that-be refused to return the horses to Australia. Many soldiers shot their own horses (or friends would shoot each others) rather than sell them to the Egyptians. There are several memorials in Albany, Western Australia, to those cavalrymen. I like this one which is relatively new. It was hard to get a good photo of it.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Mar 18
Wow, I didn't know horses had such a big role in WWI. COngratulations to Winx and Black Caviar
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 18
That is a great shame. The Irish as a rule are very fond of their horses and the gypsy cob is gaining popularity in our area whereas once there were never any around.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Mar 18
Well, I did see the movie Phar Lap.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Mar 18
And I thought you were talking about actual caviar. Yum!
@Kandae11 (57233)
•
4 Mar 18
I like the name of that horse. Would you be able to say if modern horses are a different breed from those back in the day? - like during the days of the wagon trains in the west. Those horses pulled very heavy loads - like a wagon loaded with furniture, people and other items - over very rough terrain.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 18
They still have horses like that. There is as much difference in the world of horses as there is in the world of dogs. Some are bred and trained as draught animals and are sturdy and strong and huge - like St Bernards perhaps - while others are bred for racing and are leaner and more high-spirited and would equate to greyhounds. They have much different physiques and temperaments from each other depending on the purpose for which they've been bred.
