Perseverance, tenacity, determination and a little bit of luck, all traits which contributed to the success of Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss, and while his days in the saddle may now be behind him, the man known as Bossy called on all those attributes on Wednesday.
Boss and Clive Churchill Medal winner Brett Kimmorley, were special guests at the Racenet Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Calcutta and Sportsman Evening in Sydney on Wednesday evening.
When - due to a mix-up with daylight savings’ time – Boss missed his flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney and was subsequently unable to get another southbound flight in time to make his engagement, the three-time Melbourne Cup winning hoop refused to be beaten.
Bossy organised a flight from Brisbane to Sydney and headed the hour up the highway in an Uber. He also brought along something special to show the Calcutta attendees – his three Melbourne Cups won in 2003, 2004, and 2005 aboard the great Makybe Diva.
He arrived at Sydney airport, jumped into a taxi and headed across town to The Bristol hotel for the function. He was a little late but bounded into the venue ready to entertain.
Unfortunately, in his rush, as we have all done, Bossy left something in the back of the taxi. Unlike most of us though, it wasn’t a phone, it was the three Melbourne Cups.
After pacing the floor with the phone glued to his ear, eventually, after almost two hours of frantic calls to the taxi company, the driver was located, and much to the relief of everyone – particularly their owner - the driver said the three Melbourne Cups were still in the back of his taxi.
The ‘hero cabbie’ returned to the venue with the precious ‘passengers’ and so relieved and delighted was Bossy that to celebrate their return, he brought out one of the Cups, and let patrons drink for the prestigious gold trophy.
“It was great night, a very successful night with the Calcutta and a very entertaining evening with Glen and Brett telling some wonderful stories to the big crowd,” Greyhound Racing NSW Acting Chief Executive Officer Wayne Billett said.
The Calcutta pool finished at more than $23,000 with first place worth just over $15,000. The highest-priced greyhounds through the auction were pre-post favourite Explicit for $7,200, and local chance Zipping Megatron who was purchased for $7,000.
The Calcutta is the first GRNSW have staged in conjunction with the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase but comes on the back of an extremely successful Calcutta and Sportsman’s Lunch held in the lead-up to the Ladbrokes 715 in Newcastle earlier this year.
“The Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase is our showpiece race, and to have supporting events such as the Calcutta adds to the excitement and build-up to what is always a spectacular night on the racetrack,” Billett said.
