June Wischhusen and Don’t Look Down
JUNE WISCHHUSEN, a Solario Racing owner who I first met some 15 years ago when she was an owner with Pat Eddery Racing, sadly died last month and today her family and many, many friends turned up for a very fitting funeral service at North Hertfordshire Memorial Park and Crematorium.
June was introduced to racing some thirty years ago by one of her dearest friends, Val Sutherland but it was June who took the plunge into racehorse ownership. She had a a share in a hurdler, before I knew her and apparently, it was far too keen for its own good, so didn’t exactly pull up trees!
However, her first share that I was associated with was in Millway Beach, trained by Pat Eddery. A lovely looking grey by Diktat, Pat and I targetted the 3yo gelding at our own race, the snappily titled, “Pat Eddery Racing Valentine’s Gallops Morning Handicap” at Lingfield Park on 28 January 2009.
Pat Eddery Racing was awarding the Best Turned Out and I remember June and the syndicate owners wanting to give Millway Beach the award but I said I didn’t mind winning our own race but we can’t possibly give the Best Turned Out to our own horse (even if he did look the best!)
The horse didn’t get Best Turned Out…but he did win the race under Paul Eddery!
One of June’s favourite horses was Don’t Look Down, another grey (she did like her greys!) by Aussie Rules. A big strapping horse, bought unraced out of Sir Mark Prescott’s yard, he had just the four runs as a 3yo, trained by Dean Ivory and was 4th, 3rd and had two seconds. Unfortunately, his career was curtailed by injury but one of the owners took him on to be reschooled and June really enjoyed going to see him both during his racing career and in his new life.
June and Classic Charm winning owners at Nottingham
She had a winner with Classic Charm, again trained by Dean Ivory for Solario Racing and her final share was in Taritino, trained by Amy Murphy. The 2yo son of Buratino won on just his second start, at Redcar last July, during the massive heatwave. Although June was unable to make it, she thoroughly enjoyed his win.
June loved going to the stables and being competitive by nature, always participated in the racing quiz at the annual Solario Racing Owners’ Christmas Lunch where she enjoyed displaying her racing knowledge.
A geography teacher by profession, June took around a dozen pupils once to Pat Eddery Racing on an educational visit and I remember being relieved that she was doing the risk assessments and not me!
June and owners sharing a joke with Amy Murphy on the gallops
A real member of her Shefford Community, June loved rambling, quizzes, helping neighbours in a practical sense and indeed she was a dab hand at DIY and car maintenance! A keen gardener, she especially loved sunflowers. She became a local Town Councillor in 2020 but also enjoyed much extensive travelling.
The huge turnout today was testimony to the affection with which June Wischhusen was held by family, friends and those who knew her. Sadly, illness took a hold and she died far too early at the age of 67.
Taritino makes his seasonal reappearance this Thursday at Newmarket and hopefully this talented but somewhat quirky horse can give June Wischhusen something to smile about as she looks down from above.
