GUEST SPEAKER
Alan Hull our guest speaker today, was introduced by President John Ferguson. Through his race calling, he is well known around the district and is a talented singer with the Wagga Men's Rugby Choir.
Alan told us that he was born in Wagga on an overcast day with a heavy track in Mid June 1950. He lived only a furlong from the Murrumbidgee Turf Club for the first five years of his life. One of his earliest memories was getting dressed up in his best clothes to wave a flag as The Queen processed by on her 1954 visit to Wagga.
The third child of Maisie and Desmond Hull, Alan lived in Travers St. until he was six and then his Dad got a Soldiers Settlers block at Gregadoo. "SilverSprings" had no electricity, first into the bath got the clean water, and they rode in a sulky to the school at Gregadoo with the Napier children.
When he graduated from the Gregadoo School, Alan attended Wagga High School, catching the Ladysmith bus driven by local identity Alf Barklam.
After completeing the Intermediate Certificate, Alan commenced work as an apprentice Fitter and Machinist with W.J. Rorrison and Sons and finished up the foreman of the Trade Shop.
Alan was always interested in Sport and built a Crystal set which he used to listen to the races which in those days was broadcast on nearly every radio station. He "didn't have blood lines for racing" but became very keen on the sporting aspect of racing.
After practicing calling phantom races, Alan asked a couple of blokes he knew in the harness racing industry if he could call the trials. He said he would be better than the bloke who called the trials i.e. no-one. He proved successful and was asked to call the Henty Show trots. From there he graduated to calling football, commentating on the South West League for 30 years until live television took over and AFL became available. He called his first Horse Race meeting at Hay NSW.
After the legendary Ted Ryder retired he was appointed MTC course broadcaster on 2nd August 1982. He had called three prior Wagga Gold Cups.
Alan said that Racing is an incredible industry turning over billions of dollars and employing hundreds of thousands around the world. Betting on meetings is available all day, everyday, and racing can be accessed online from Wagga to Hong Kong to Ascot.
Because Wagga Racing is now live on SKY, prize money has been increased from $8,000 to $15,000 per race. This attracts bigger fields and better quality horses. The Wagga Cup is the best advertisement for Wagga going live to 54 Countries.
Some of the big races are being called later, to accommodate international audiences and to keep people at the track till the last race. The exception is the Melbourne Cup which, due to its iconic status, remains around 3pm.
Alan said "calling races is as simple as it is difficult". All horses and riders have something different which distinguishes them. A grey horse stands out. Bridles are different colours, Blinkers often have the initials of the trainer printed on them, the colour of the Cap worn by the jockey is very important. Alan knows the sit of the local jockeys on their mounts. All of these distinguishing features are then associated with the horse's name and so the broadcaster is equipped to call the race.
Alan described the recent jockeys' deaths as tragic. He said horses are very powerful animals and female jockeys can often get a horse to run better for them than the men, as they have "softer hands". They are however not strong whip riders and male jockeys are often superior in a driving finish.
The game (racing) revolves around money and punters keep the game alive.
Alan has two children Quentin and Stephanie. He and wife Gail recently celebrated forty years of marriage and have four grandchildren. Quentin has established himself as a top broadcaster with the ABC. (Must be in the Blood lines)
Alan concluded his very interesting address with a poem he wrote for the Hundred Club.
Members showed their appreciation of Alan's talk with questions and applause.
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President John began the meeting with Rotary Grace and then proposed a loyal toast as well as a toast 
