‘I was only 20 when I was in Vietnam’: The inspiring story behind 2025 The Galaxy hope Private Harry
A Group 1 win in The Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday would be a fitting way for Private Harry to honour the man for whom he’s named … a decorated Vietnam veteran who admits he still has trouble sleeping all these years later.
Private Harry Dennis, a Vietnam veteran, still has trouble sleeping all these years later.
It’s the flashbacks that unnerve him. How do you forget what your mind can’t unsee?
The haunting images of bullets ravaging the bodies of his mates.
The devastating injuries and loss of life caused by landmines.
The sounds of gunfire as loud now as they were in the steamy jungles of Vietnam.
“And then someone yelled out ‘Contact’, and the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar
And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
God help me – he was goin’ home in June.’’
Dennis is also a very private man. He doesn’t like talking about the war, which is understandable given the horrors he has endured.
But Dennis agreed to this interview as he has an outstanding racehorse named after him – Private Harry, the favourite for the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Private Harry is part-owned by Steve Reid, a businessman and former Sydney racing official, who wanted to name a racehorse in honour of his father-in-law as an acknowledgment his heroism and service.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“I got a recommendation to buy into a yearling by Harry’s Angel, and I wanted to name it after my father-in-law,’’ Reid said.
“Harry doesn’t talk much about the Vietnam War but I asked him about it and he told me he was only a private in the Army.
“I said ‘no mate, there is no thing as just a private in the war.’
“He fought for our country on the frontline, we are very proud of him, and I wanted to recognise his service so I named the horse, Private Harry.’’
Reid has also convinced his father-in-law to be trackside on Saturday when Private Harry races for Group 1 glory on Saturday.
• 2025 Golden Slipper tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
Dennis has been a lifelong fan of horse racing. He goes back to the days when Fine And Dandy was winning Golden Slippers and his full-brother Time And Tide was winning Doncaster Handicaps. He knows a thing or two about the sport.
“I think Galilee or Vain are probably the best horses I’ve seen,’’ Dennis said.
“I used to go to the races a lot when I was younger and I saw Galilee win the (1967) Sydney Cup.’’
When Dennis watched champion Galilee, he has only just returned from his 12-month tour of duty in Vietnam.
“When you went home, you weren’t the same as when you went away,’’ Dennis admitted.
I asked Dennis how he has coped with those memories of the horrors of war. His answer was painfully blunt.
“I don’t,’’ he said. “I have never coped too well.
“I was only 20 when I was in Vietnam. The things you see over there you never forget.
“You are a kid and you see all this blood and guts, you have to bury your mates – it gets to you.
“I had to get a bit of help. I’m OK now.’’
• 2025 George Ryder Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
Dennis was a regular in the Australian Army when war broke out in Vietnam and he was sent to the frontline in June, 1965.
“We were in One Battalion and were the first Australians to go in,’’ Dennis said.
“We were doing operations with the Americans on the front line. There were times we copped a fair whack. I remember one day I lost five of my mates.’’
As Dennis relived the horrors of war, the lyrics to the haunting Redgum song, “I was only 19”, kept flooding this writer’s mind.
“A four week operation, when each step can mean your last one on two legs
It was a war within yourself
But you wouldn’t let your mates down ‘til they had you dusted off
So you closed your eyes and thought about somethin’ else.”
• Kiwi raider in Rosehill Guineas a mystery … even to his trainers
From the moment Dennis landed in Vietnam, he was counting days until he could return home.
“We used to hear little furphys we are going home in January or something like that and we would get our hopes up.
“But we had to do the 12 months – we went home in June.
“I remember they gave us a march through Sydney. The commander of One Battalion was leading the march and a girl ran out with red paint and threw it all over him.
“There is more respect for the uniform now.’’
Dennis discharged from the Army and found employment with the Corrective Services where he worked for 20 years, mainly at Silverwater Jail. He retired in 1988.
“The service in Vietnam caught up with me,’’ Dennis said matter-of-factly.
“I was lucky, I got out of there without any (physical) injuries, just psychological.
“It eventually catches up with you, like it does with a lot of people.’’
“And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can’t get to sleep?
And night time’s just a jungle dark and a barking M16?
And what’s this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me – I was only nineteen.’’
Sadly, Dennis didn’t leave tragedy behind in Vietnam. His son, Jason, died at just 19 and then he lost his wife, Helen, about 10 years ago.
But Dennis finds a way to keep going. He’s made of sterner stuff than most.
Horse racing and rising sprint star Private Harry gives Dennis some relief from the flashbacks that still makes sleep so difficult even today.
• Uncommon James set to sparkle in Galaxy
“Private Harry’s first ever trial he ran out of a place,’’ Dennis said. “From that moment, he has never been beaten in his trials or races – and he wins them by fair margins, too.
“From what I have seen of it, Private Harry is a fair horse. I think he will do wonders.
“The big one we are all hoping for, my daughter Mandy and her husband Steve is The Everest.’’
Dennis recently celebrated his 80th birthday and Reid presented his father-in-law with a large framed picture of Private Harry winning the $3 million The Sunlight at the Sunshine Coast in January.
“I am going to have to get a bigger wall as there are going to be that many of them,’’ Dennis said.
Originally published as ‘I was only 20 when I was in Vietnam’: The inspiring story behind 2025 The Galaxy hope Private Harry
‘Proper horse’: Lees gets chance to match Slipper-winning father
Kris Lees, the champion Newcastle trainer, will join his late father on the Golden Slipper honour roll if Rivellino wins the big race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Edward Cummings to resurrect training career at Hawkesbury
Group 1 winning trainer Edward Cummings will return to the training fold at Hawkesbury after Racing NSW removed his suspension on Friday.
‘Why I do the hard yards’: Young hoop ready for Slipper stage
Thomas Stockdale has always pictured himself riding in the biggest races, and his hard work will pay off when he takes his spot in the Golden Slipper.