Winning medicine for veteran Prow

By Jordan Gerrans

At 85 years of age and after a recent run of poor luck with his health, revered country racing identity Charlie Prow certainly deserved a timely pick-me-up.

The Blackall horseman received that at Jundah on Saturday afternoon, returning to the winner’s enclosure for the first time in more than a year.

Former Tony Gollan-trained galloper Maybe won the opening event at Jundah to put a smile on the veteran’s face, as well as the wider Prow family and much of the racing community in the region.

The long-time local racing figure is a celebrated icon in the area and even has a grandstand named after him at his hometown Blackall track.

“I still love doing them,” Prow said of his horses.

“But, I've got a little bit of a health problem. I've got fluid on the lungs that takes a bit of shifting.”

It has been a team effort from the entire Prow clan to continue with their stable, with Charlie’s grandson Jake and great-grandson Tate chipping in of late.

“He hasn't been really well of late,” Prow’s daughter Maree said.

“But, he says that it's good to be getting up in the morning and having an interest every morning.

“So, he still loves his horses and getting stuck into that through the day.

“It's a good medicine, basically.

“It makes you happy to see that it's still something he gets a lot of enjoyment out of.

“Just to catch up with everyone too, like all the other people in the racing community, that keeps him connected, as well.

“Just by the comments, everyone was excited to see the win, as excited as we were.

“It's good. It hasn't come without his struggles. Like if he's been in hospital for a bit and that interrupts the schedule and the training and that sort of thing.

“But, when you pull a win, well, it's definitely good medicine.”

The octogenarian has a team of two at Blackall, with Maybe winning on Saturday and stablemate Shut It Down finishing third later in the program.

Top Clermont hoop Emma Bell steered both Prow runners at Jundah.

The voice of racing in the Central West, Andrew Watts, noted Prow’s popularity in the region in his call of the first race from Jundah on Saturday.

“Well done, Charlie,” Watts said.

“It is good to see Charlie here today.

“It is always good to see him in the winner’s circle in those famous pink and black colours.”

Before Saturday's result, Prow's last winner was at Barcaldine in April of last year.

Prow has spent much of his life in the industry, first as a jockey before turning his hand to training.

He is passing down his passion for the code to the next generation, as well.

Prow’s grandson Jake usually straps for the veteran horseman and drives to the races, while great-grandson Tate was able to get into the winning post-race picture on Saturday.

“He's doing all right,” Prow said of his 12-year-old great-grandson.

“He hasn't been with the horses as much as a kid, but he's going all right now.

“He plays a bit of football and that, he enjoys the races though. When he does go and there's a starter, he enjoys them.

“He's a mad footballer, but he loves going to the races with his Dad.”

Maybe has been racing for Prow since April this year and won at her 10th start in the region.

“She began pretty well and got in a good position and raced pretty well,” Prow said.

“Coming to the corner, you could see that she looked like she was going to win.

“She has failed a couple of times. They've always got wide alleys. I think she won a maiden at the Gold Coast because that was her last win before this.

“It was good to see it. We had to go about 300km to get there, but it was worth it in the long run.”

Maybe and Shut It Down will be back at the races at Blackall on October 17.

Prow is best known for his association with former outback winning machine Miss Petty, who won 22 races on the bounce.