What About A Gift Horse?
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday September 28, 1999
Antiques dealer Dave Walters was left to rue his decision to give up midget mare Tibouchina after the five-year-old won on debut at Bulli yesterday.
The Thirroul businessman gifted the mare to Wollongong nurse Desley Fletcher after losing faith in the trotting game.
But Fletcher wasn't looking a gift horse in the mouth following Tibouchina's win at her first race start. She started a 7/4 favourite.
``This is great. Tibouchina is my fourth horse and they have all won," the Wollongong Hospital nursing sister said. ``Better still, she didn't cost me a cent."
Walters had left a young Tibouchina and her mother, former Golden Easter Egg-winner Gotham Express, in a paddock, reluctant to persevere with his passion for pacing.
Through his antique business he got to know Desley's father, Des Fletcher, and before long Walters had given away Tibouchina to a horse-mad nurse.
``I didn't want to continue on in trotting, it's a tough game," Walters said. ``I gave the mare away. I thought she was too small, but I'm very happy for Desley and her family. Good luck to them."
Fletcher, 30, grew up around Bulli and has been attending meetings there since she was a baby.
``My dad loved the trotting, so I was here from a very young age," she said. ``I just loved the horses and it was always a dream to own a winner one day."
Her first winner Little Chaton cost her $6000 - but won at Harold Park. All Out Now and Tridus both won at Bulli at their first starts on the track before Tibouchina emulated the feat yesterday.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury