Eric’s fare to longevity

A novice six-year-old grey gelding gives Eric Wilson good reason to get out of bed each morning. 

Wilson, a sprightly 92-year-old, races Frugal Fare (Changeover) who was sent out a $1.85 favorite and outclassed his rivals at only his second race start at Shepparton last night. 

The son of Changeover is trained by Wilson’s son in law Stephen O’Donoghue who cites the pacer as playing a key role in keeping his father in law an active nonagenarian. 

“Eric broke him in and gaited him up and I don’t think his wife Pam knew but Eric was fast working the horse until about 12 months ago,” O’Donoghue said. 

O’Donoghue said Wilson ‘clocks on’ at his stables each day. 

“Eric comes out to the farm every day and gets him out, brushes him and puts him on the jogger on the days he isn’t being fast worked,” he said. 

O’Donoghue concedes Frugal Fare wasn’t high on the priority list as a young horse and wasn’t led out of the paddock until he was a four-year-old. 

“Because he was one of ours he just got left in the paddock for a few years before we tried him,” he said. 

Frugal Fare ran up to his encouraging debut effort when runner up at Shepparton three weeks ago. 

“He had a bit of a hitch in his gait but that’s been ironed out, he’ll have a break now and he should race through his classes when he come back in later in the year,” he said. 

The winner was driven by Wilson’s grandson (and O’Donoghue’s son) Corey who has now driven 10 winners in his relatively short career behind the reins. 

O’Donoghue said the 26-year-old Corey is regaining confidence after breaking his leg in a fall at Melton in January. 

“He is starting to read it again now,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink