Magic Millions: Inside story of Gold Coast racing carnival’s earliest days

The Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race that stops the city and has produced champions for nearly 40 years but few know the story of its earliest years. FIND OUT MORE

The Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race that stops the city and has produced champions for nearly 40 years.

The famed 2YO Classic will run this afternoon at the Gold Coast Turf Club, with horses sold at last year’s yearling sales battling it out for a $3m purse.

The story of Magic Millions began in the 1980s when the Gold Coast was amid a major economic boom.

In late 1986 racing industry figures were eagerly awaiting the following year’s sales and race event – then known simply as “The Magic Million”.

The inaugural sale in 1986 “produced a two-day average of $31,495 from 200 yearlings and a gross of $6.3 million”.

10 Jan 1987: Snippets winning the 1987 Magic Millions

Organisers were hoping to increase that dramatically in 1987. Today’s sales top $200m.

Among those was Australian Racing and Breeding Stables (ARABS) chairman John Messara who had an advance team of more than 30 people arrive early in a bid to scope out the best talent on offer.

ARABS, based at the Middlebrook Park facility, was described at the time as “the first thoroughbred outfit to achieve stock exchange listing in Australia and has a paid-up capital of $50m.”.

The stockbroker’s team had the largest number of yearlings in the sale.

“We also have shares in Sir Tristram, Dalmacia, Without Fear, Luskin Star, Twig Moss and Ptolomeo. Our Oaks winners include November Rain, Starzaan, Rom’s Stiletto and Denise’s Joy,’’ Mr Messara said at the time.

“The Magic Million is an exciting concept. I’ll be there and disappointed if one of Middlebrook’s doesn’t top the sale.’’

John Messara, stockbroker, horse breeder and later the chairman of Arrowfield Group

Even before the first race was run, organisers were already looking to the future.

By 1989 they were planning the world’s first international satellite hook-up.

It would allow sales to be broadcast to buyers in Singapore, Tokyo and New Zealand.

Elders auctioneer Frank Mitchell said at the time it was an ambitious goal for the city.

“I saw the Melbourne Cup on satellite system to the Roosevelt Hotel in Beverly Hills this year,’’ he said in December 1986.

“There was also a satellite link for sales of shares and nominations to stallions between Keeneland and a hotel in Lexington, Kentucky, but that is as far as it has gone.

“Our sales in January will be one of the few in world whose figures will be up. Goffs sale in Dublin recently for weanlings was down 20 per cent. A top mares sale in the US was also down.

“Soon there will be only three top yearlings sales in Australasia _ Trentham in New Zealand in January, the Magic Millions in January and William Inglis in Sydney at Easter.’’

Sally Keay (Rogers) and her son Andrew in 1998.

The inaugural race in 1987 won by Snippets, who was trained by local Sally Rogers (now Keay).

Despite months of preparation she almost missed seeing the win.

Ms Keay was rushed to the Gold Coast Hospital less than 24 hours before the race began with post-operative problems following a collapsed lung.

“(The lung was infected and) the doctor said to my parents it was 50-50 (whether I would survive),” she said looking back to her moment of glory in early 1987.

Ms Keay’s family managed the stables and she was out of hospital in time to be reunited with Snippets just before the race. Despite having a drainage tube sticking out of her chest, she was able to spend a brief period of time with Snippets before the race began and wished her well.

Snippets had its date with destiny and won the race.

The Augustine family, who were the original owners of Snippets, went on to allow the original Magic Millions silverware to be used as a perpetual trophy for the race.