Move forward 30 years, and the winner of today’s Queen Elizabeth at Flemington, featuring several quality stayers such as Our Smoking Joe, Baughurst and Light Vision, will share in over $250,000 worth of cash and silverware.

But Minahan doesn’t begrudge the current crop of trainers their added financial benefits.

“I wouldn’t like to be a country trainers these days,” the former air force officer said.

“It’s a lot of hard yakka to make money in the country ... you really have to be at the top level to be amongst that big money.”

Minahan trained Decelea from his Wahgunyah stables during her three-year season and collected the 1978 Queen Elizabeth Stakes ahead of the Tommy (TJ) Smith-trained In Pursuit.

Decelea and Minahan went on to finish fourth in the AJC Derby and then at the tail of the field in the 1978 Melbourne Cup behind Arwon.

Soon after that, the filly was put in the hands of the famous TJ.

“It was disappointing to see her go ... after that she didn’t do so well,” Minahan said.

“Tommy (Smith) had her leading her races, which she didn’t like to do at Sydney.

“I got in contact with him and said ‘you’re riding her wrong, Tommy’.

“But he obviously threw that letter in the bin because the last I heard of her she was a short-price favourite, went to the lead and finished last.”

Nonetheless, it is only with fondness that Minahan will be tuning in to watch today’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

“I still love following the horses,” he said.

“I’m not well enough to go to the races any more, which is a shame but I’ve got a big TV set-up that I watch them all on.”

And does he have a special tip for the day’s racing?

“No, and I won’t be having a bet,” he said.