Twin Town Local Legend Jack Whybrow speaking to the media after Norm’s Bridle won for his stable over two decades ago.
Well-known and much loved, local Twin Town family, the Whybrows, have won a slot in the $2 million Kosciuszko horse race, set down for October 14 at 3:00pm. Locally owned horse Mogo Magic will also appear after one of its part owners won a slot. (Check Our Website and Facebook page for our Mogo Magic Story)
Father and son duo, Jack and Chris (Zeek) Whybrow spent a combined total of $70 on the $5 tickets and they were the first name pulled from the ballot today, with the $5 tickets giving them 14 chances out of what could have been tens of thousands of entries.
The Whybrow family were heavily involved in the horse racing industry themselves in the past and trained some lovely horses over a couple of decades, including the highly fancied, Norm’s Bridle.
Jack and Zeek are very well-known across the district due to being very accomplished Group 9 Rugby League footballers in their respective eras. This has been passed on to Zeek’s sons, who currently play for the Harden Hawks in the George Tooke competition. Joie who often plays in the Centres represented the area in this year’s side.
With the racing industry running through their veins and both Jack and Zeek retaining a strong interest, Jack was planning on attending the big day regardless of whether he won a slot or not. Something he thought he had little chance of doing.
Zeek told the Times that he was meant to get the tickets earlier than he had and left it to the last minute before snapping them up at The Harden Country Club.
Zeek said, “I got them Tuesday arvo before it closed. I bought $20 a couple of weeks ago and Dad said he wanted $50 and asked me to go and get them. I forgot the day I was supposed to get them and I went back the day before entries closed and got $50 for dad. I said to him, I only bought $20 bucks but he said, you might win it, I might win it, we will go halves. I said, righto, done deal.”
The new slot holders had to move quickly as horses were being snapped up at a great rate. They would have loved to have got Mogo Magic which is 3rd favourite and undefeated, however, one if its owners from Goulburn won a slot and automatically picked it up.
Zeek said, “The one we did settle on was a 5 year old gelding called Derry Grove, they were getting sold out by the minute, we missed out on two horses. This one is trained by Matthew Dunn at Murwillumbah and has had 9 starts for 3 wins and over one hundred thousand dollars in prize money.”
Zeek and Jack were notified by Mogo Magic part owner and good friend Nathan Schofield who said that it had been announced that a slot holder had been pulled out from the Country Club. Zeek said, “Nathan read out a number to us and I knew we had won.”
Both Jack and Zeek have struck a 50-50 deal with the owners. First prize is $1 million dollars meaning that if Derry Grove, who is currently at odds of $21 wins, it will bring home approximately $415,000 for the Harden connections.
The Times got on to Jack after speaking with Zeek. Jack was watching the races on the tv with Goulburn on the screen at the time. The former trainer and now retired 72 year old was ecstatic with winning the slot. He said, “I didn’t think we would do any good, there was a guy on tv who spent $15,000 and he won two slots, but we only spent $70.”
Derry Grove won well a fortnight ago and Jack is hoping that the gelding’s form would continue to improve leading up to the big race. Jack said, “We have gone for one with a bit of value, we will see what happens I suppose.”
Jack loves the races, he said, “It never gets out of your blood. We have gone down the list a bit but who knows.”
With years of experience Jack knows how hard it is to get a good horse. He recently bought into one with Tash Burleigh at Goulburn and although it’s not named yet, he hopes it will do well. All eyes will be on Derry Grove for now though, as he and his son Zeek and his wider family will go on a wild ride of emotions leading up to, during, and after the race.
Jack said that he went to look at the market half a dozen times but didn’t get around to it. Trainer Matty Dunn will give Derry Grove another run in a fortnight after winning a Highway in convincing fashion on August 19 in a Highway Class 2 by 4.27 lengths.
With plenty of experience in the industry, Jack and Zeek might be able to pull off the big win yet.
