Veteran pacer with 430 starts and counting

On a quiet Tuesday afternoon down at Albion Park, old marvel Lancelot Bromac will be there every week, waiting quietly at his regular stall.

Now 11 years of age and having raced an amazing 430 times over his career, Lancelot Bromac commands that same tie-up stall each week before and after he goes around.

Caboolture trainer Stewart Dickson, who has raced Lancelot Bromac for his stable in all of those career starts outside of his first five, reckons it would not be Tuesday racing at the Brisbane track without his old stager.

When he does finish up, which does not look like happening any time soon, the veteran horseman hopes a sign is placed above tie-up stall number 43 at Albion Park to recognise Lancelot Bromac’s stunning feats.

“They would not hold the races at Albion Park on a Tuesday if it was not for Lancelot Bromac being there,” Dickson says with a laugh.

The pacer’s resume is eye-popping.

He holds the record for most ever career starts at Albion Park with more than 400, he is second for most starts in Australia for a standardbred – behind Destreos who had 323 starts at Albion Park and 486 in his lifetime – and apart from his first race win at the Gold Coast, his 30 subsequent victories have all come at Albion Park.

“When you look at it, it is a great achievement for the horse,” Dickson said.

“He enjoys it.

“The amount of starts he has had; I would not have a clue where or when it is going to end.

“He is the most talked about horse around to be honest, he has a pretty big following – when he had his 400th start I was getting text messages from people that I do not know on my phone, congratulating the horse.

“He has been a great horse.”

Part-owner Mitch Manners, a race caller in NSW that hails from Queensland, officially purchased into the ownership of Lancelot Bromac two years ago when a previous owner wanted to sell his shares.

Manners’ name has been in the race book with the son of Art Major for just 24 months, but he has been along for the ride since his earliest starts.

“I felt like I owned Lancelot Bromac before I even did because I followed him all through his career and I have been good mates with Stew over the years, always wanting to race a horse with him,” Manners said.

“I met him all those years ago when I was a little tacker going to the trots.

“Lancelot Bromac has become a bit of a people’s horse up in Queensland and every time the horse wins, we certainly feel like we have achieved something together.

“As he is getting older, the wins are getting more and more special and you do not know if he will get another one.”

Dickson does not think there is one special secret he has used in his training methods to keep the stalwart of racing in the Sunshine State continuing to tick over across the years.

More than anything, he has just kept his horse happy.

He races once a week – on the Tuesday afternoon, he does not do much fast work outside of that at his Caboolture stable, just a bit of a jog and a swim every day.

Having been with Dickson for all this time, Lancelot Bromac is like an old friend for the veteran trainer, noting he may have given up the training game if not for his stable star’s longevity.

“He is a grumpy old bugger, he does not like being fussed over and he is just one of the crew,” Dickson said.

“He is the boss though, he will put his head around and give you a nip if you are not watching him.

“Other than that, he is just easy to get along with.

“When you go the races, he is a different horse, you cannot get along with him – he will kick, head butt and bite you at the track.

“He is switched on at the races and knows he is there to race.

“Racing every Tuesday, it just clicks with him, he will never leave a grain of oat; he just eats everything, he is a guts.”

Over the years the old boy has had a number of drivers, 10 in total driving him to a victory from 28 individual drivers who have sat behind him, with leading Queensland reinsman Peter “Leader Peter” McMullen the most successful, collecting nine wins.

These days, his regular driver is Angus “The Kid” Garrard, who enjoys his Tuesday afternoons with Lancelot Bromac even when they can be a bit curious at times.

“Having over 400 starts, he is a bit smarter than us most of the time, he is a bit different but he is a nice horse to drive,” Garrard said.

“Lately he has been racing super and he does not show any signs of slowing down.

“He knows what he is doing.

“He can switch off at different times and you just need to stay on him as a driver.

“You do not win 30-odd races if you are no good and hopefully there is a few more left in him yet.”

Dickson credits McMullen’s efforts in the early days for making him the pacer he is today.

Starting his career out with trainer Shannon Price, Dickson recalls his stable newcomer back then being sluggish and wayward, not knowing how to race properly, before his efforts – contributed by McMullen – eventually got his mind on the job.

At Caboolture, Dickson has two tracks to work his team on – a 700-metre sand track and an almost mile long surface for fast work – after starting his training and driving career in Cairns, where he grew up.

A happy and sound Lancelot Bromac can be found at the property, living his day out in a paddock, instead of a box, and getting regular swims.

“It is just the little things, you know, in the night-time and he is out in the paddock, he can see me in the feed room and if he does not get fed first, he can get cranky,” Dickson, who cut his teeth in show jumping, said.

“He has his little quirks.

“He is as sound as you would want him at this moment.

“Even when the other horses are going to the races and he is not going that day, you can tell he wants to be going with them.

“He is just one of those characters.”

Lancelot Bromac’s best results came during the weekly Rising Stars Championship series a few years ago, where he won a couple of races and was placed on several other occasions.

A total of 31 victories, as well as 120 minor placings, for more than $300,000 in prize money is on Lancelot Bromac’s resume – but for Manners, it is about more than winning or losing.

“I have great respect for Stew for what he has done and how he cares for the horse,” Manners said.

“I am fortunate to be along for the ride.

“I have had a lot of fun owning the horse, it is not about results or wins, it is about two blokes having fun racing a horse together.”

By Jordan Gerrans for Racing Queensland