Benson To Be Honoured At Sale
- Tuesday, 20 July 2010 01:49
The Sale Turf Club are honouring former race broadcaster Ray Benson with a luncheon on the 24th of July to celebrate 50 years since he called his first race at the Greenwattle course.
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then with plenty of ups and downs that are common in the life of a race broadcaster.
Besides Sale in those years he also covered races at Moe, Rosedale, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
After travelling to the various courses in Gippsland most weekends to broadcast he finally joined the staff at 3TR as a full time announcer.
Living in Kensington for the majority of his early life he was lured back to the city joining the late Bert Bryant and John Russell at 3UZ which lasted for 11 years.
He then had a stint at 3DB known as the Herald Station for 12 years with Bill Collins when the Showgrounds trots was a regular on Channel 7.
His last call was a harness meeting at Cobram on the border about 30 years ago.
Ray is still the man about town. He has never lost his interest in racing, turning up every Saturday besides attending all the official trials to produce the 'Ray Benson Trial Form', a vehicle to assist struggling punters.
Picture: Jack Styring
