Episode 211: Col Hodges OAM

Great to catch up with the voice of NSW central west racing. Col Hodges covers meetings at 25 venues and is a living legend in the region. He talks of a happy childhood at Bogan Gate (NSW) and school days at the curiously named Gunning Gap, a push bike ride from the family farm. The veteran commentator recalls his fascination with the ABC race callers of the 1950’s. Col looks back on his admiration for the shearing contractors who visited the family property. He reminisces about his thirty years in the shearing sheds of the central west. He talks of the lucky break that shaped his destiny. He was recruited by the king of the western callers Bob Gunn to look after a little meeting at Fifield, between Trundle and Tullamore.  Col looks back on his involvement with harness and greyhound racing. He highlights a few champion pacers of the era. He pays tribute to his two favourite race meetings, the Bedgerabong Picnics and the famous Wellington Boot. Col reflects on the early careers of some great country gallopers who went on to much bigger things. He remembers a handful of ageless country gallopers who became legends on the bush circuit. Col has long been an entertaining storyteller. He shares a few of his favourite yarns with us. You’ll enjoy this podcast with a country broadcasting legend.