ONE of Queensland’s most prolific winners on the Doomben track Chief De Beers will make a special visit to Tasmania this week as a member of the high-profiled “Living Legends’ team.
Living Legends is a home for some of Australia’s former star racehorses and they are regularly dispatched to various venues to help promote specific races or carnivals.
Chief De Beers or “The Chief” as he is affectionately known, will parade for the public on the lawns of Parliament at Salamanca in Hobart on Saturday morning.
After The Chief retired from racing in July 1999 he was recruited by the Queensland Police Force and he spent many years being exposed to all types of duties as a police horse.
During his time with the police force Chief De Beers served as the Governor’s police horse an when he ended his term with the force in December last year he was given a Vice Regal send-off.
While in Tasmania The Chief will be cared for by his former Queensland-based full-time handler Belinda Worthington.
Chief De Beers’ visit to Tasmania has been made possible by the financial support of Co-Op Toyota, Tasracing, Tattsbet and the Tasmanian Racing Club.
The Chief ended his racing career with 20 wins and 21 minor placings from 52 starts for $1,589,650 but he was only able to win on the Doomben track.
He was placed at Group level on five tracks around Australia – Flemington, Caulfield and MooneeValley in Victoria and at Eagle Farm and the Gold Coast in his home state.
Chief De Beers was trained throughout his racing career by Bill Calder and the gelding once carried 64.5 kg to victory.
He will be paraded on the Parliament lawns at Salamanca between 9-30 am and noon on Saturday, February 9.
The Chief will also be at Tattersall’s Park Elwick on Sunday to lead the AAMI Hobart Cup field out onto the track.