Clifton horseman Bill Keenan all about "principle"

By Jordan Gerrans

When Clifton horseman Bill Keenan talks about his chance in his hometown races this Saturday afternoon, he often uses the word “principle”.

The long-time Clifton-based trainer believes there is an abundance of "principle" in the people who bred and now race his one race horse in work, Darlhisma.

It has not been an easy journey for the connections of the big maiden galloper but they have stuck by the horse as well as his trainer, Keenan.

Like Keenan training in the Eastern Downs area, Darlhisma’s family line has been around for decades.

The 60-year-old prepared Darlhisma’s mother – Darling Be Good – as well as her grand dam – Pure Angel.

Darling Be Good was the best of the bunch, winning seven and being placed on 10 other occasions, while the latest progeny is aiming to break his maiden status on his home track this Saturday.

Keenan has been along for the journey training all the family and so has many of the connections of the gallopers.

The ownership group and breeders are friends of Keenan’s through his employment at the local meat works, his other friends and family, as well as people he attended high school with.

As many hail from the Clifton area on the Downs, there would not be a more popular winner on Saturday afternoon if the big gelding can get the money.

Keenan is a life member of the club while Ross Naumann – who is the majority owner of the galloper – his father is also a life member at Clifton.

And, sadly for the group, Darlhisma will be the last of the family they will be able to race.

“The first season we put Darling Be Good to Mahisara and he is the result, I do not know where the 17 hands comes from as she was only 15 hands and Mahisara was only average size,” the trainer said of his sizeable race horse.

“She sadly got struck by lightning, so he is the end of the line as a gelding.

“There have been a number of things that have happened over time in regards to money and the breeding and these people have showed outstanding principle to stay with me and the horses.”

Keenan and his family have been an institution in the Clifton area for decades and while he focuses most of his attention in on training horses, he also helps to keep the local club afloat.

“Bill is very, very good like that,” Clifton Jockey Club Secretary Margaret Cross said.

“When he has a day off work, he will often ring me up and ask if there is anything he can do at the club to make sure it is ready for race day.

“It is not a big racing area as far as horses go but everyone comes together to ensure the race day is a success.”

Keenan’s loyal owners have stuck with Darlhisma over a difficult last couple of years.

He has only had the three races starts, going around a year without even making it to the races.

This is where the passionate trainer goes into principle again.

“Raymond Spiller from Stanthorpe was the only one of these owners who was not in Darling Be Good and he has had no luck with me with his horses,” Keenan detailed. 

“It is about principle for these people so I hope he turns out to be a good horse.

“I asked Ross if we could lease him out to the owners that were in Darling Be Good and he did.

“These people have been through a lot and deserve some success.”

Keenan is honest that he does not believe the one galloper in his barn will become a champion.

But, after all the team behind him and the horse have gone through over the years, he thinks there is a victory or two in him.

“He has had a bit of bad luck but I think the two of his runs last preparation were excellent,” he said.

“We have not ever had as much rain as we have had this year and I had him in work for more than four months and he had about half a dozen jump outs.

“And, three times I had him within a fortnight of racing and each time Clifton got cut off because of the floods, twice to Warwick and once to Toowoomba.

“The owners have been fantastic and they are practical people about it all. 

“These problems about not being able to race a horse, they are minor compared to people in this area who have been flooded two or three times, which is just terrible.”

Darlhisma will contest the Maiden Plate over 1000 metres on Saturday, while will be one of the five non-TAB events run at the track. 

According to Cross, many will have their eyes on Keenan’s runner this Saturday.

“Everyone has a keen interest in Bill’s horses and what he does,” Cross said.

After recently ticking over to 60 years of age, Keenan still rides all his own track work.

He has battled some ill health over the last few years and has been aided in his stable by Shanice Wilkinson, who is a local high school student that has an interest in horses.

Keenan himself enjoyed a stint at the prominent Lindsay Park operation as a track work rider earlier in his life, an experience that he believes he learnt plenty from.

As well as training and riding work, he has also spent time breaking in horses and pre-training over the years, as well.

The Clifton Cup is the biggest event in the regional town every year, Keenan and Cross both declare. 

Clifton is just down the road from Warwick, who hosted their popular Cup day only recently.

Barry Burgess – who is Warwick Turf Club’s President – is looking forward to being at Clifton on Saturday.

The two clubs work closely together and will this year share their new horse ambulance.

“We lend it to Clifton and Stanthorpe and they can use it for the day instead of them buying their own at their expense,” Burgess said.

“That is the sort of interaction we have with these clubs and we always invite each other to the other clubs races, we have a great rapport.

“There is nothing like country racing.”