The Cunninghame clan of Cranbourne at the races. Peter, Bob and Pauline, who died last year and to whose legacy Bob has dedicated the proceeds of his racing stable.By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE horse trainer Bob Cunninghame has successfully battled many challenges in his life but the loss of his lifelong partner Pauline last year, was by far the toughest.
As a mark of respect, Bob has decided to continue racing his horses in his wife’s name and last week star Rocky Dale and maiden runner Courtney Dale had their first runs in a summer campaign dedicated to Pauline’s memory.
Neither managed a place firstup but the 75year old horseman said he would continue to prepare horses and compete for as long as possible as a tribute to his wife.
Bob halted his training activities at the couple’s Pearcedale property and sent his horses to the paddock so that he could properly care for his partner of 52 years, after Pauline was diagnosed with cancer and became ill last April.
Sadly, she continued to deteriorate and passed away in November.
The loss devastated Bob and their adopted son and stable foreman, Peter, who has lived with the Cunninghames for 30 years.
“I wanted to run the horses in Pauline’s name because she was such a big part of what we did,” an emotional Bob said.
“They will run under the family name because that’s the rule of racing, but prize money will go to Pauline’s trust and that will remain as her legacy.
“That’s what she would have wanted.”
The couple was wellknown in the area, particularly in racing circles, having developed a partnership in life by doing everything together after meeting in Adelaide in 1954.
“I went over to race some horses for a few months, met Pauline and stayed 16 years,” Bob chuckled.
They were involved in both thoroughbred and harness racing for over five decades and for most of that time, Pauline was by his side in support.
Bob holds a dual harness and thoroughbred training licence and drove his own trotters until Pauline forced him to stop competing after he had a massive heart attack 17 years ago.
He has undergone more heart surgery since, but it did not dampen his love for horses and the couple started breeding and training thoroughbred horses with success after Bob recuperated.
Their best horse was Werribee track record holder Rocky Sprent with which they bred and raced a number of foals.
With Pauline, Bob worked and trained in places such as Wodonga, Wagga and Portland in his early days and raced thoroughbreds and pacers on South Australian and New South Wales tracks as well as most tracks in country Victoria.
