LAST Thursday was Footy Finals Fun Day at Yea Probus. Most wore their team colours and the theme for the day was all things football. The president gave a short history of the Yea Football Club and the old Waranga North East League. The Probus Choir, The Mommas and Poppa, sang a specially written football song by John Handsaker. Sandy’s joke had a football theme and all enjoyed party pies and sausage rolls for morning tea. Much fun team rivalry was enjoyed but it was obvious that Collingwood team colours dominated the assembly. The guest speaker for the morning was Rodney Bain from Seymour. Rodney started as an apprentice with Sloan’s Radio in Seymour and one of his jobs was attending to the public address (PA) system at the Seymour Cup. His boss was also interested in horse racing and trained some horses so gradually Rodney started to take an interest too. Later in life he watched as his son worked seven days a week and had no other life so talked him into buying a young racehorse, “just to at least give him an interest and at least one day a week off work when he attended the races with his horse.” There first horse was a major winner in many well-known races throughout Eastern Australia but mysteriously died when about to try for the Melbourne Cup. Rodney and son heard of another young horse which had loads of potential, but it was a small horse. They took the punt in buying ‘Knights Choice’ and put him out in the paddock “to grow a bit.” He didn’t grow any bigger, but he was a goer on a good track and was soon winning everything, always coming from behind at the last moment. A Hong Kong businessman offered them $2.5 million for him but they decided to keep him and try him for the Melbourne Cup in 2024, which ‘Knight’s Choice’ won. Rodney bought the winning 2024 Melbourne Cup to the Probus meeting last Thursday to the delight of all members, with many taking the opportunity to have a photo taken with this prestigious trophy. A great story of an ordinary Aussie battler winning the grandest racing prize of all time.
