After more than six decades as a jockey and trainer, LIZ AALBERS is one of the most familiar faces on Border racetracks. Aalbers caught up with the Border Mail's BRENT GODDE during the week.
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BRENT GODDE: Growing up as a kid, did you always have ambitions of becoming a jockey?
LIZ AALBERS: Not in the slightest because I was born in Holland and didn't migrate to Australia until I was 10-years-old.
BG: Have you got any brothers or sisters?
LA: I am part of a big family with four brothers and two sisters including a twin. Three of my brothers have passed away and my twin sister also died when she was 29 from cancer.
BG: How did you first get involved in racing?
LA: When we first arrived in Australia we lived in the Bonegilla migrant camp for 10 months. After that I joined the hunt club and started riding horses. Then I started competing in point-to-point races which is a form of horse racing over fences for hunting horses and amateur riders. My first ride was for Rutherglen trainer Jack Nott in a point-to-point race at Kilmore when I was 15.
BG: So your family wasn't involved in racing?
LA: No, dad was a pastry cook in Albury after we left Bonegilla.
BG: Did you ever have a horse growing up?
LA: No, I remember one day I was walking around Mungabareena Reserve and I saw a horse tied up. So I decided to hop on it and went for a ride and it just sort of snowballed from there.
BG: You were one of the first female jockeys in the North East to gain a licence.
LA: It was in 1974 and I got an invite to ride in an all ladies race at Eagle Farm because females weren't allowed to ride against the males in professional races until 1979. I finished second behind Pam O'Neil who was one of the leading female riders at the time.
BG: Did you ride much in the city?
LA: Not really, mainly on the picnic circuit where I rode more than 50 winners.
BG: So did you have to work as well to make ends meet?
LA: I started off working for dad in the pastry shop until he passed away. Then I got a job for Sunicrust Bakery doing a bread run for about 10 years. I used to have my saddle in the bread truck and ride track work for Ollie Cox, John Waite and Harold Boon in the morning before I started work.
BG: You would have had to be up nice and early most mornings?
LA: I remember one morning I rode track work and I had a load of bread to take to Uncle Ben's. I went to get in the truck and it wouldn't start so I had to ring the boss up and tell him I was stuck at the race track. The boss said 'what the bloody hell are you doing there?' and I said 'I thought I would swing pass the race track and see if I could get us a few more customers.' It didn't go down too well with the boss that one.
BG: Ha ha, that's a classic. Did you keep your job?
LA: Yeah, I worked for Sunicrust for 11 years then got a job with the legendary football coach Martin Cross who owned a take-away shop in Albury and I used to do a bit of cooking. I worked for Martin for about 11 years as well.
BG: Being a female jockey, how did your male counterparts accept you?
LA: They wouldn't accept us. The rule at the time was females were only allowed to ride against females.
BG: So you never rode against the males apart from at the picnic races?
LA: It was funny, one time I did in a point-to-point race. One of the riders broke his leg and they didn't have a replacement jockey. So they asked me despite it being against the rules at the time. The horse had to carry 11 stone 10 ounces and they couldn't find enough weights to put in the saddle bag so we had to smash a tin garbage lid to put in there. I ended up winning the race.
BG: I'm guessing that didn't go down well at the time?
LA: There was hell to pay because the media found out about it and it made for a fairly big story at the time.
BG: Were you a natural in the saddle or was it a skill that you had to learn.
LA: I had never been on a horse so it was certainly something that I had to learn. I just practiced as much as I could and I had plenty of falls but hurting my shoulder was about the worst injury I copped.
BG: Did the local trainers support you and give you plenty of opportunities?
LA: I only ever rode track work at Wodonga. Jack Maher used to give me plenty of rides at the picnic meetings at Dederang, Seymour and Tatura and places like that.
BG: How was your weight, was it a battle to keep it off?
LA: I used to weigh around 57kg and I remember one day I had to ride one at the Seymour picnics at 54kg. So I went off sugar and had grilled chops for breakfast, lunch and tea. I got down to the 54kg fairly easily and from that day on I always avoided sugar. I hate sugar now, I can't stand it.
BG: How would you describe yourself as a jockey?
LA: I was fearless and nothing worried me. I schooled horses with Ronnie Hall which is Melbourne cup winning jockey Greg's father.
BG: What do you consider your highlight in the saddle?
LA: When I out-rode the males that day in the point-to-point race and it made the papers.
BG: What did you love most about being a jockey?
LA: Just the thrill of riding a winner.
BG: What did you hate most about being a jockey?
LA: Falling off is not much fun.
BG: How old were you when you retired from being a jockey and what lead to your decision?
LA: I had my last ride at Dederang Picnics for Bill Smith and it won. I'm not sure what year it was but I then took out an owner-trainer licence.
BG: How did you find the transition from being a jockey to a trainer?
LA: It's a lot harder being a trainer because you have to look after your horses seven days a week. Jockeys when they are not at the races, ride a bit of track work in the morning and then go home for the rest of the day.
BG: How long did it take until you trained your first winner?
LA: I think I was lucky enough to get a winner with my third starter.
BG: What was the most amount of horses you had in work?
LA: At one stage I had around 15 horses but half of them were breakers.
BG: What do you consider you biggest highlight as a trainer?
LA: I have won a race on every Melbourne metropolitan track which is not a bad effort when you are only a small trainer from the bush.
BG: How would you describe yourself as a trainer?
LA: I think if a horse has got its fair share of ability, most people can train a winner. It's a bit like teaching Tony Lockett to kick goals - anyone could do that. Unless a horse has got some natural ability, nobody can teach a slow horse to win.
BG: Who do you consider the best horse you trained?
LA: Bon Curley won five in Melbourne. Roy Higgins, Harry White and Pat Hyland all won on the horse. I'm still great mates with Pat and have got shares in three horses with him.
BG: Do you have a favourite meeting?
LA: I used to love Boxing Day at Wodonga because it coincided with my birthday and more often than not I would win a race. It was like the horses knew it was my birthday and tried that little bit harder to help me celebrate.
BG: You retired from training last year, how is retirement treating you?
LA: I really love retirement and probably the thing I miss most is the company and all the gossip you used to hear down at the track. I have got a lot more time on my hands now and I get to spend a lot more time with Anne Taylor who has been my closest friend for over 50 years. She used to be a trainer as well and retired this year. We go out for lunch a bit and like going to the Ripe Tomato in Wodonga.
BG: Have you taken up any new interests or hobbies.
LA: Not really, I still drink the same. It's funny after all those years of early starts I can't sleep in and am out of bed by 5am most mornings. I usually go for a 45 minute walk and then jump in the spa for an hour. The spa helps get rid of the aches and pains.
BG: You were made a life member in 2014 of the WDTC?
LA: It was a fairly humbling experience and Kevin Richardson organised it all. I rate Kevin as a very good president and Wodonga is lucky to have a hard-working committee with blokes like Terry Doolan and Terry Maher.
BG: Any perks since you have been a life member?
LA: You get in the committee marquee on cup day for nothing, eat all day, drink all day and then have a dance to the live music after the last race. So I'm not complaining.
BG: You were never married Liz?
LA: No, I had four brothers and one sister who were all married and end up divorced. I thought to myself that I would learn from their mistakes. Curtis Reid was my partner for 35-years but we never got hitched.
BG: The Wodonga Cup attracted its biggest crowd ever on Friday. Was that an eye-opener for you?
LA: Tom O'Connor has done a marvellous job. He got the ball rolling and it's amazing the transformation the last couple of years.
BG: Do you like to have a bet?
LA: I'd have a bet most weekends, I'm not a big better but I will have $20 on something I like. If I have got one that I part-own and think it can win, I'll have a couple of hundred on it. One of the horses I part-own won at Moonee Valley about a fortnight ago at 10/1 so my Christmas stocking is fairly full at the minute.
BG: You usually celebrate your birthday on Boxing Day at Wodonga by training a winner. What have you got planned now that you are retired?
LA: I think I'm just going to have a party at home with the family. Peter and Terry Maher usually come around for a drink or two.
BG: Do you still have the occasional Riccadonna?
LA: I love my Riccadonna and find it makes me talk a lot more than I should. If you want to find out the truth about something, just ask me after I've had a couple of wines.
BG: No doubt you would have been involved in dozens of funny incidents during your time in racing. Have you got a standout?
LA: One day at Seymour Picnics I was riding a horse and I was told by Norm Cakebread, no matter what, you have to lead on this horse. I drew barrier 14 and I got one off the fence and was about to go to the lead before the girl on the inside of me got the stick out trying to keep the front. I yelled out to her "for Christ's sake, put your whip you know where." So she put the whip away and her horse came back and I ended up with a fairly easy lead and won the race. At the time Terry O'Brien was a cadet steward and he was at the half-mile peg. When I went to weigh in Terry said with a smile on his face "I wonder if that girl has still got her whip you know where." I said "Did you hear me?" and he just burst out laughing. Terry went on to be the head steward in the area.
