The Clarence River Jockey Club have always been mindful to permanently commemorate the deeds of successful locally trained horses over the July Carnival.
There is a major bar named in honour of 1984 cup winner Riverdale.
On Grafton Cup Day, The Mothers Gift is named in honour of the 2000 Ramornie handicap winner and the Belflyer named in honour of the inaugural Kosciusko winner.
All of these gallopers were trained in Grafton at the time of their major successes.
This year the CRJC is proud to commemorate the win in 1983 Grafton Cup win of Wards Mistake by naming the staying race on Ramornie day in his honour.
The history is a good racing yarn.
When owner Mick Moy was first told about a gangly looking unnamed youngster that at been offered and passed in at Glen Innes thoroughbred sale in January 1979 there was something that spiked his interest.
Far from being regally bred the colt was by little known New Zealand bred stallion Sea Wolf from a mare called Idle Game.
Mick made his enquiries and was told if you buy him, you will need plenty of patience as there was no way this horse would be an early comer.
In the end Mick and another local Kevin Mulligan purchased him and placed him in the capable hands of local Grafton trainer Bob Gosling.
Gosling a true horseman did not push the then gelding, and he was not seen at the races until a mid-season 3yo. However, by the end of his 3yo year in July 1981racing under the name Wards Mistake he had already won two races.
In his 4yo year the patience and astute placement by Bob Gosling was starting to really pay off as Wards Mistake had progressed through to open company and was now the winner of nine races.
By July 1983 Grafton had not had a hometown cup winner for 31 years and in all fairness Wards Mistake as a 50/1 chance in the ring was not really considered by many to be a genuine chance of bringing that winning drought to an end.
Afterall, he had been beaten on his merits the previous week in the cup prelude running fifth and although he had been successful at Rosehill 2030m some five months earlier that was at a much easier grade.
Having said that his trainer Bob Gosling was keen to have a crack at the Grafton Cup. Sometimes fairy tales do come true and this in the end it was a fairy tale for all involved, local rider John Hitchings trainer Bob Gosling and owners Mick Moy and Kevin Mulligan.
In the 1983 Cup, Hutchings produced a gem of ride on Wards Mistake settling midfield the fence before shifting into the clear on the point of the home turn, then using his great strength to get the lead in the shadows of the post and gain a much overdue local victory.
Everybody in racing knew the major players involved Kevin Mulligan and Mick Moy were not only well known on the racetrack but as local stock and station agents.
John Hutchings had been the leading Grafton rider for years and Bob Gosling was regarded as one of the most astute trainers not only in Grafton but in the whole of Northern NSW and beyond. It was indeed a victory for the little guy, and it was celebrated by many.
Wards Mistake did not win a race in the following year, in 1985 returned to his brilliant best recording victories at Randwick and in the Coffs Harbour Cup unfortunately whilst he contested the Grafton Cup that year a second victory eluded him.
Sadly, Wards Mistake had his final start at Eagle Farm in November 1985 unfortunately succumbing to a career ending injury.
On Ramornie day the CRJC will be joined by members of the extended family of Wards Mistake connections to celebrate this long overdue honour.
