Flemington is a special place. Even then I remember sensing the excitement, the crowds and the anticipation. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere in words.
Dad met a few friends that day and they looked at the horses and worked out which ones to back. One of them backed a winner and he bought me some chocolate and gave me a $5 note as a treat. Mum said I got home from the races that day, flopped into a chair and before she could ask, ‘How was it, Hayley?’ I was fast asleep.”
Now, many years later, I am privileged to work at Flemington. It’s my job to ensure that all the jockeys weigh out at the correct weight with all their correct gear. They weigh out with their saddle, lead bag if needed, gel pads, girth covers, boots, vest and their colours – everything except their whip and helmet. They can be up to half a kilo over the handicapped weight when they go out. After the race, we weigh them all back in, except the winner who weighs out in the mounting yard. A piece of gear sometimes mistakenly gets left behind when the horse is being saddled, but a lot of checks are done in the mounting yard to make sure everything is in place.