Early years
Albert Sylvester (Nuts) Renny was born in 1898 to Agnes and Tomas Renny. His father was a railway employee and they lived at ‘Senga’, 10 Young Street, Moonee Ponds. A smart dresser, young Renny had an engaging manner and many friends.
Career
Renny served an apprenticeship with trainer C. Moore until December 1915. After that he rode at unregistered pony courses in Melbourne and Sydney. This led to the Victorian Racing Club (VRC) disqualifying him from racing. People considered Renny one of the best jockeys of his day on pony courses. The VRC evoked the disqualification in 1917 and he joined Jack Holt’s stable. But by 1918 he had returned to the pony courses.
Death
Renny died at Fitzroy Racecourse (in St. George’s Road, Thornbury) on 24 November 1919. He was riding the favourite, a 4-year-old gelding called ‘Wongaburra' in the fourth race.
All went well during this race, also known as the Fitzroy Purse, until the final turn. Renny moved into second and tried to ride along the rails. But ‘Wongaburra’ clipped the heels of the horse in front, stumbled and fell.
The fall brought down 3 more horses and ‘Wongaburra’ landed on Renny, crushing his skull. Renny died and ‘Wongaburra’ was so injured they destroyed him.
The track cancelled racing for the day and a large crowd stood silent as the doctor pronounced him dead. They moved his body to the mortuary and an inquest determined the cause of death was a racing accident.
Race courses were popular during the First World War. Racing was one of the few entertainments all could enjoy for a reasonable price.
At the time of his death Renny lived at the Mordialloc Hotel. They buried him in the Roman Catholic section of Coburg Cemetery. He remains there with his father and younger brother, George.
Bibliography
Adapted from material supplied by historian Dr Jan Penney, GMCT Trust member 2010-2020, and by the Friends of Coburg Cemetery Inc.
Hardy F (1950) Power Without Glory, Penguin
Lemmon A (2008) The History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing, Hardie Grant Publishing
Swift W G (1928) The History of Northcote, Northcote Council
Image source
Image from WikiNorthia.
