Owner’s shout after race victory

Usually, if you are thinking of shouting the bar at the Traveller's Rest Hotel in Thorpdale, there wouldn't be much cost involved.

 

The tiny dairy and potato farming town, in the Strzelecki Ranges in Gippsland, is home to more spuds and cows than people.

 

Trotting owner, and Thorpdale local, Pete Ransom, was in the bar on Thursday night while a horse he part owns, Village Cruiser, was competing at Geelong.

 

Ransom rarely misses his horses racing, however work commitments kept him from the track last Thursday.

 

Village Cruiser led throughout to salute at good each-way odds, and Ransom, in winning spirit, declared he would shout the bar.

 

In a case of perfect timing, as the shout was announced, former champion Hawthorn footballer Shane Crawford, with a huge entourage in tow, arrived at the pub after completing a visit to the nearby Thorpdale Football Club.

 

Needless to say, Ransom had to keep very close tabs on his tab to ensure his percentage of the winners cheque didn't get spent all at once!

 

Ransom and his fellow part-owner, Rowan Blackshaw, bred and race Village Cruiser, now a winner of five races, and have been involved in trotting as a hobby for several years.

 

They have raced several horses with the Cruiser moniker, and have their team prepared by Chris and Glenn Hunter in nearby Trafalgar.

 

In recent times the pair have also expanded their role in the sport – a filly, Stealth Cruiser has been leased to the Gippsland Harness Training Centre, to assist the next generation of participants to learn about harness racing.

 

Ransom's business, Able On-Site Services, also sponsors harness racing at Warragul.

 

The C2 event at Warragul next Monday afternoon will be named after the company – and all being well Village Cruiser will be engaged in that race carrying the hopes of Ransom and Blackshaw and the Hunter's for another win.

 

The beer might be flowing again at the Traveller's Rest if the winning run continues.