Episode 299: Neville Begg

We get ongoing requests from regulars with podcast suggestions.  Sometimes our correspondents are unaware their choice has already featured. One name to keep coming up, is that of Neville Begg who joined the podcast eighteen months ago and was warmly received.

I spoke to Neville this week and found him in great fettle, just five months after his 90th birthday. He was flattered to learn that he’s getting another run .

The Hall Of Famer talks about his early life in Newcastle and his first tutor Ray Cashman.

 

He talks of that fateful day in 1945 when he arrived at Randwick to begin his apprenticeship with the legendary Maurice McCarten.

Neville discusses McCarten’s extraordinary riding career. He was already a two time premiership winner in NZ before coming to Australia where he rode another 1000 winners.  

Begg remembers his days with the quietly spoken McCarten who trained champions like Todman. The veteran horseman shares his memories of the iconic racehorse and stallion.

Neville recalls the racing career of the best mare Maurice McCarten got to train- the striking chestnut with the flaxen mane and tail. Wenona Girl won a stunning 27 races. Fifteen of them are today classified as Gr 1’s.

 

He remembers the deeds of the great jockey Neville Sellwood who was McCarten’s stable rider for more than a decade. Neville heard of Sellwood’s death in a Paris race fall, on an early morning news bulletin.

Neville could be the only man alive who rode afternoon exercise alongside the champion Bernborough- the horse he rates as the best he ever saw.

The great horseman looks back on his low profile start as a trainer and the horses who helped launch his career.

Neville remembers with great clarity the deeds of several outstanding racehorses to pass through his hands in three decades. There were two topliners who slipped through his fingers.

He looks back on a fruitful 20 year association with his stable jockey Ron Quinton.

To those who haven’t heard the Neville Begg podcast you’re in for a nostalgic journey to a romantic period in Sydney racing. I hope those who have heard it previously, will do us the honour one more time.