ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

THEY WERE ONCE SOMEBODY’S DARLING
Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

They were once somebody’s darling they were once somebody’s dream,
they were once feted by thousands urged on by whip, hands and scream.
Now they wait in dark – dejected and they’ll no more hear the call
of “they’re off” because tomorrow is the last day for them all.

They don’t sleep in stables stately, they don’t get the brush and gleam
of a fine thoroughbred warmblood – now it’s rough – they hear the scream
of the fallen gone before them, and they know not yet the foe
but they fear the fate awaiting – and they know. Oh yes! They know.

It is hard to be unwanted; it is hard when one falls short
It is hard when expectations don’t equate to dollars sought
So just turn your back and leave them – sell them off and let them go -
they were once somebody’s darlings but seems now none want to know.

As the rows of Flemington roses pale and drop confetti blooms
the champagne, chicken and chance crowd have departed in the gloom
leaving a trail of trashed tickets, and a divot speckled course
it is doubtful if one punter gives a stuff about the horse.

Good poem Maureen.

It was a sad day when two horses died after running the cup.

Heather

I'd be more than happy to see the whole racing "industry" defunct.

The mounted police in NSW used to get retired race horses, so they got to be groomed and housed in nice stables in their latter years ( I don't know what the arrangement is now )

It certainly was - I used to be a fan of horse racing and as a kid worked in racing stables as a strapper but I can no longer justify the deaths each year of thousands of horses that are by products of the racing industry - the wastage, the ones that don't run fast enough, the ones that don't tick all the boxex. The racehorse breeding industry has become akin to puppy farming. Records reveal that at least 700 horses every month are slaughtered here for the export market. Many of these horses are young and healthy thoroughbreds who simply didn't make it on the race track. An estimate of between 13000 and 18000 horses a year go through Australian knackeries and many of them were once somebody's darling.

Very good poem Maureen - I have often wondered what the horses make of it all and been saddened by what goes on behind the scenes.