This was all known at the time but seems forgotten now. The Courier Mail in 1938 reported Catalogue “is owned by a woman and was trained by a woman” and quoted Allan McDonald saying his wife was the true trainer. This photo of them is from Palmerston North City Library, Ian Matheson City Archives

But this was in name only. In reality, “Granny” McDonald was the winning trainer. Catalogue was also just the second winning horse in Melbourne Cup history to be owned by a woman, a Mrs A. Jamieson. And it won at odds of 25-1. If that’s not a movie waiting to be made, I don’t know what is.

Catalogue was trained by Hedwick Wilhelmina “Granny” McDonald, the first female trainer in New Zealand, but at that time Australia didn't recognise female trainers. So her husband, Allan McDonald, obtained a temporary training licence in Victoria and was officially listed as Catalogue’s trainer.

A lot of people liked The Fifth Element but I thought it was boron

Oughtacorrect

When I worked in a supermarket as a teenager I learnt that apparently Jap was short for Japala, though no idea where that name came from

@actualnames.bsky.social

That is the stupidest book pricing system I have ever seen.

Hey Paul, when I started on The Chase Australia 10 years ago, you were the chaser I most aspired to be like. Huge respect for you and for how you have handled everything that has come your way.