By Simon Draycott
To Vietnam veteran Vern Jones, the name Whiston conjures up a lot of vivid memories and this Friday night at the Valley will certainly bring them flooding back.
Not only was the horse he owned an inspiration on the track, the man it was named after was a legend off it.
Jones and Colin Whiston first met in 1965 when undertaking medicals for their conscription to the Army and continued their friendship through different Army bases in Australia and when they were deployed to Vietnam.
Unfortunately Whiston never returned home from the Battle of Long Tan, however in Jones he had a mate who made sure he’d be remembered for years to come.
As a horse racing enthusiast from a young age, Jones became involved in breeding and worked alongside Mornington trainer Tony Noonan.
After seeing the future Whiston for the first time, Noonan remarked to Jones that he thought they had a good one.
“He was athletic and Colin was a great footballer in the Mornington Peninsula league - I said this is the one,” Jones said.
“After he did his sesamoid, he got back on the track and Tony said he’s never seen a braver horse – I said that’s why I named it after Colin.”
Whiston went on to claim six wins from 15 starts, including its maiden at Bairnsdale, three at Sandown and two at Flemington.
Jones’s proudest moment came when his beloved horse blitzed the field in its first run in the city.
“He streaked them”, Jones said.
“He won by about 4-5 lengths at Sandown. I was nearly in tears and Tony said I told you we’ve got a fair horse.”
Unfortunately Whiston never won at The Valley despite starting as the favourite on one occasion. However Whiston’s family has had plenty of success at the track, with Jones estimating about 15 wins between them.
Although Whiston never tasted success at The Valley, Jones has always loved his time at the amphitheater racetrack.
“The Winners Room is fantastic and the Sunline Room is great for owners,” he said.
“Everything about The Valley is more progressive than the other racetracks. You’re closer to the racing, closer to the horses in the mounting yard, you’re closer everywhere. I just love going there.”
“You always get treated well and you can stay in the Sunline Room all day, you don’t get pushed out.”
This Friday marks Remembrance Day, and Jones will be playing a role in commemorating servicemen and women at the race meeting.
“It just makes me feel good and proud that I will be able to do this on Friday and represent all the other Vietnam Vets who are doing it hard now,” he said.
“It’s fantastic that Remembrance Day and Anzac Day are starting to be more recognised by the young people and the younger generation, we had a lapse there for a while.
“There’s a lot of good in Remembrance Day, however it is also a little sad thinking of those blokes that lost their lives.”
While Jones will be remembering the service men and women who have served the country this Friday, there’s a fair chance that Whiston, both Colin and the horse named after him, will creep to the front of his mind come Friday night.