Payray was a star Tasmanian pacer in the early 1950s. He was owned by Mrs G.A. Young of Launceston, and trained by her husband Gerald. (It’s a sign of those times that I am unable to discover Mrs Young’s first name!)
The pacer had won interstate races in Victoria and New South Wales.
The horse, adored by the Young family, had been named for their two young sons, Philip Anthony (aged 5) and Robert Andrew (aged 4). He was so quiet that neighbourhood children would ride on his back; five of them in a row on one occasion!
Payray won his 11th race in succession at the Elphin course on Saturday December 20 1952.
He was due to contest Victoria’s richest pacing event, the Hunter Cup, on the following Saturday. After a record breaking mile run at Elphin, expectations were high.
Source – The Examiner, December 13 1952
Following the Elphin race Gerald Young returned the horse to his stables at 132 Cimetiere Street in Launceston. The buildings were set back from the street and accessed by a short laneway.
Payday occupied a stall beside his younger, full brother, Herbray. Both were given a feed of bran and chaff at 7.00pm. Next morning Young gave them a breakfast of oats and bran mash
About an hour afterwards a neighbour heard the sound of frenzied kicking against the walls of the horse stalls and raised the alarm. When Gerald entered Payray’s stall the horse was down and in great distress. He died almost immediately. Herbray lasted only a few minutes longer, and died with his head in the trainer’s arms.
PAYRAY, LYING DEAD IN HIS STALL.
Shocked connections were photographed visiting the stables;
Source – Examiner, 22nd December 1952
It was clear that the deaths were not natural. The trauma of seeing his beloved animals die in such circumstances must have been unbearable for Gerald Young. The financial loss for his family was also heavy. Payray was valued at £7,000 and Herbay (yet to reach his potential) at £3.000. They were uninsured.
An investigation revealed that strychnine had been mixed into the bag of bran.
Two strangers had been observed watching Payray closely before and after his winning run at Elphin and they immediately became the prime suspects. It was thought that criminals from Melbourne had been hired to ensure that Payray did not compete in the rich Hunter Cup. Unfortunately, although detectives began monitoring all plane services to the mainland, the two men could not be found. A reward for information was offered but went unclaimed.
Gerald Young expressed his appreciation regarding an offer from a close friend to cover the costs of burying both Payray and Herbray. Mr H. M. (Tony) Newman was a well known local sporting identity and hotelier. He generously arranged to dig graves for the horses on his property, and to erect headstones and a memorial in their honour.
However, when the graves were half dug there was a complaint from a neighbour that they were located too close to residences. The State Health Department intervened and refused to allow the burials to proceed. Instead, Tony Newman arranged for the horses to be cremated and their ashes interred in his garden within caskets. It would be interesting to know whether the memorial and headstones are still on the property.
If not, at least there are photographs of the champion Payray to preserve his memory.
Source – Melbourne Herald 22nd Dec. 1952
I remember this story Dad raced standardbreds and I grew up on the race track. I those days strychnine was often fed in very small quantities to make their coats shine Dad said it was probably an accident but who knows. Mrs Young would not have been named officially on papers because she was a woman.
Dad raced many horses both in Tasmania ,mainland and one in New Zealand. They used to take the horses to the mainland on the steamer and load them via a sling.
Dad raced one famous horse Tassy`s Gamble he won the Dallas Brooks Cup in Melbourne and two Easter Cups among his 54 wins.
There has recently been a history room set up at Carrick track with trotting race memorabilia
Jen
Hi Jen, thanks so much for that, how interesting about using strychnine. Gamble certainly had a great career! Must have been wonderful for your father.