By Duane Ranger
Remember them on Anzac Day and don’t forget the equine version - Remember Them - either.
The 23-win pacer, who was named after those who gave up their lives in world wars, won $174,160 in stakes between May 2012 and February 2019 (174 starts).
His Redcliffe trainer, Greg Franklin said the nine-year-old dark brown gelding was recently retired and had been given to a "magnificent home" where he would be cared for his twilight years.
"He was a great little fella. I had him for eight years and he was virtually part of the family. He's been here since he walked out of the Redcliffe Yearling Sales," Franklin said.
"I'll never forget him. He won eight metropolitan races at Albion Park. Not many horses do that."
He said his breeder Heath Stoodly, bought back Remember Them at the Sales for $10,000.
"He was named after our war heroes simply because he was a son of Courage Under Fire. It's quite pertinent at this time of year isn't it? My father (Gordon) fought in Papua New Guinea in World War Two," said Franklin.
Remember Them was foaled on September 28, 2009. He won his last race on on December 1 last year at Albion Park. Eight races later he was retired.
“He just couldn’t foot it with the free-for-allers any more and I thought he was too good a horse to retire him as a claimer," Franklin said.
“He’s now being well looked after by a wonderful lady. He has a great home now and I’m so pleased about that because after what he did for us he deserves the best in his retirement."
Franklin, who has been training for 40 years, said Remember Them was right up there with his former 2000 Its Motor Power gelding, Motor Parade, as the best he has sat behind.
"He won 37 races ($112,781) and had a whopping 263 starts. He was a great old horse too, but potentially perhaps my best is still to come - that's if our accident prone Somepartysomewhere can stay healthy,” Franklin said.
That six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding has won 19 of his 70 starts ($96,281) and placed 22 times in an ‘on again - off again' career dating back to his debut second at Tabcorp Park Menangle on March 10, 2015.
"He's so accident prone it isn't funny. He resumed from a seven-month spell when winning at Albion Park on March 29 and now he's out for another couple of weeks due to another accident," Franklin said.
"If only he would steer clear of trouble because when he's sound he's right up there with the best I've had. Fingers crossed he can do the simple things right in his paddock this time in.
“It’s always something."
Somepartysomewhere would have probably been racing this week had he not split his head open in a gate in his paddock.
“It’s not serious but he’s done this since his last race and now he’s out for a couple more weeks. Hopefully when he’s back up and running he will steer clear of trouble this time,” Franklin said.
The ‘Mr Bean’ of harness racing has suffered injuries like falling over in his float, once on a trip to Sydney; being cast in his box; several paddock injuries; and viruses and illness.
“He’s only six so he’s got plenty of racing in him yet. There are people in this world who are accident prone as well, so I guess you just have to go with it. But when he gets back to the racetrack and stays healthy, I’m sure he will win more races. I really like him,” Franklin said.
Somepartysomewhere’s biggest wins to date have come in three $12,000 events at Albion Park last June and August.