HomeWork pals itching to enjoy retirement at the races
Work pals itching to enjoy retirement at the races
February 23, 2022
Owners, Thoroughbred
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Owners, Thoroughbred
Wendy Ellis and Gail Browne are excited about retirement after winning $10,000 to spend on a racehorse.
The pair, along with Gail’s son Greg Browne and his partner Kelly Curtis, carried off the major prize in the Own the Dream finale on Friday.
Wendy and Gail have been working together for 20 years and, as they move into retirement, they are delighted to have a new interest to share – one which has been made possible by the windfall of a stake in a racehorse plus two years’ worth of training fees.
“When you retire, it’s great to have another interest in life. Now we have something to look forward to,” Gail said.
“We’ll be on budgets for the next couple of years. Without the prize, it would not be do-able for us to be part-owners of a racehorse and meet up regularly for a day at the races.”
Their team name, Golden Sixty, is a reference to Wendy and Gail’s life stage as well as one of Greg’s favourite racehorses.
As a foursome, they were among the smaller teams in the Own the Dream competition but they made the most of their chances by going to every event together and getting as many tickets as possible in the lottery.
Then luck, as always in racing, played a part. Work commitments kept Kelly from the finale, a stroke of misfortune which her team said turned out for the best when they won the prize draw, claiming she was the unlucky member of the group.
Superstition is also a sporting tradition and Wendy proved she was ready to join the racing fraternity when she noted an itch in her hand as an omen of prosperity the day before the finale.
“My right hand was so itchy I thought of the old saying: ‘Right to receive, left to leave’,” she said.
“When Gail first asked if I wanted to go in Own the Dream, I thought: ‘Why not?’ I love watching the races on TV and I go for whichever horse catches my eye.
“The best event in the competition was visiting the Yarradale Stud and learning about the horses.”
At the Magic Millions sale this week, they all have different approaches to choosing a horse. Wendy fancies buying a share in a grey while Gail prefers chestnuts but team captain Greg simply says he wants: “A fast, sound one.”
“I’m looking forward to getting involved with my mum and her friend and enjoying the thoroughbred experience with them,” he said.
“Mum’s favourite horse is Winx and I would much prefer her favourite horse to be one she has a small interest in, that she can regularly visit at the stable and hopefully see on race day.
“I love it and they’re going to love it as well.”
Also on the winners’ list were the Walkertothestable team in second place, who won a $7000 voucher and third-placed LARD Holdings picked up a $5000 voucher to spend at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale on a Westspeed Platinum breeder-nominated yearling. Both teams also won $3500 in training fees to use towards their yearlings.