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Eric Connolly: Astute Trainer And Punter

By K Cummings

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Published: 14Dec2011
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Given the significant role that wagering plays in Australian horse racing, it's not surprising that a well-known punter such as Eric Connolly would be a source for awe and inspiration that seems to grow with the passage of time.

Born in April of 1880 at a sheep station in Victoria, Connolly learned to appreciate horse racing from his father, who was a horse trainer of some repute.

One of his early feats, at the age of 15, was to take 8 pounds he received for selling a pony, and using those proceeds to wager on almost every race at a meeting held at Flemington Racecourse, collecting 700 pounds for his astute effort.

Another, one of which Connolly himself was very fond, was his taking a sprinter named The General, training him as a jumper and taking the win in the 1904 Grand National Steeplechase.

This early proof of having a mind for racing and a keen eye for horses served him well throughout his racing life.

As a trainer, he enjoyed significant success over many years and many racing formats.

Among these were sprint victories in the Oakley Plate of 1910 provided by Celerity and the 1913 Williamstown Cup courtesy of Sea Prince.

Moving up in distance proved no obstacle to Connolly's training prowess as proven by a 1927 victory by Murillo the 2600m Metropolitan Handicap.

Connolly also produced back-to-back winners in what he considered one of the most challenging races, the 1200m Newmarket Handicap with Rostrum in 1922 and Sunburst in 1923, where coincidentally, he took in 100,000 pounds in betting profits to go along with his stakes winnings.

One notorious incident that has undoubtedly contributed to Connolly's legend was his role in the incident in 1929 that is considered one of the most audacious and daring escapades in the entire history of Australian horse racing.

Having failed in his attempt to purchase a champion stayer from New Zealand named Nightmarch; Connolly instead became the self-appointed campaign manager for the horse. He subsequently backed Nightmarch in the Epsom Derby, then against him in the Metropolitan Derby. He then switched courses again and bet 180,000 pounds on Nightmarch to beat none other than Phar Lap in the Melbourne Cup, receiving 6 to 1 odds and earning a substantial payday when Nightmarch proceeded to win with Roy Reed aboard.

On another occasion, Connolly was supposedly the brains behind a betting scandal where he and one of Phar Laps owners allegedly plotted to have Phar Lap scratched from the Caulfield Cup when the two had placed substantial wagers at long odds on the Amounis-Phar Lap combination for the 1930 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Scratching Phar Lap from the Caulfield, easing Amounis's path to victory in that race and Phar Lap's subsequent win of the Melbourne Cup, earned Connolly 200,000 pounds.

Apparently all this manoeuvring took a toll on Connolly's health because he retired from racing in late 1929 after suffering a heart attack.

While it is tempting to presume that someone who is not above playing fast and loose with the rules from time to time did so out of a lack of ambition, Connolly often showed up at the course on race day well prior to the first event. This was undoubtedly due in some part to the work ethic he demonstrated as a young man. He also was known to donate money to the needy along with hospitals and churches.

He is remembered to this day as being the source of the Australian punters' idiom, "the luck of Eric Connelly."

Connolly passed away suddenly on the 9th October 1944 at his home in Toorak from heart related causes.

The man who was a bane to bookies all over Australia, made a considerable fortune from his training and punting efforts, left behind an estate valued at 6000 pounds.

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