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Glatz and Turf Tapper the fairy-tale result tomorrow

They might just lift the roof off the old Oakbank grandstand if Turf Tapper wins when racing returns to the famous Adelaide Hills track for their Christmas Twilight meeting tomorrow.

The horse is owned by former club chairman John Glatz, who served the club for 25 years before retiring in 2016, and there would be no more fitting winner at the Christmas Twilight meeting.

It’s almost 12 months to the day that Glatz almost lost his life battling the Adelaide Hills fires as he tried in vain to save his Woodside property.

Glatz was in a coma for 10 days after he was found slumped on his tractor, his amazing recovery highlighted by the fact doctors thought they’d lost him twice.

“I’m a bit better than this time last year,” Glatz said.

“I’m recovering pretty well – I didn’t know much about anything this time last year, being unconscious.”

Turf Tapper is raced by his wife Merri, daughter Lucy and her husband Rob, and Glatz said he was heading in cautious knowing Rob was celebrating the end of the working year at a function on course.

“You know what happens when you have a day like that, he’ll probably run tailed off last or something,” Glatz joked

Turf Tapper has enjoyed his most successful campaign of racing under the guidance of Shayne Cahill and Glatz said there was some extra satisfaction knowing the horse was a bargain buy at just $2000 knowing he had issues.

“I bought him from Bjorn Baker, he needed a throat operation, he wasn’t expensive but he’s done a good job,” Glatz said.

“I thought he raced as well ever last start and he doesn’t do much work in between.”

Win, lose or draw it will be a special Christmas for the Glatz family in 2020 as they celebrate the festive season with family, not crowded around a hospital bed.

“We’ll go my daughter’s with the family on Christmas Eve and have a pretty quiet Christmas Day,” Glatz said.

“We’re still waiting for our house to be rebuilt. The slab is down so I think they’ll get cracking on that early in the New Year.”

Cahill also has Grimesy lining up for the family later in the day.

“I gave him to Shayne and said let me know if he’s no good straight away,’’ Glatz said,

“Every time he seems to show enough to persevere and then last start he disgraced himself.

“Shayne’s going to ride him tomorrow. He’s had a trial since and he could improve.”

And it’s been a tough year for the Oakbank Racing Club, after the iconic Adelaide Hills club was forced to cancel the famous Eater Carnival due to COVID-19.

But there is a new face and new focus, with Gawler Racing Club chief executive officer Shane Collins joining the club earlier in the year.

“The local community have really supported the Christmas Twilight meeting,’’ Collins said

“There’s about a dozen marquees out the front we’ve sold to the local businesses and so forth. We can only have 1000 people here on the day, but I reckon we’ll nearly get to capacity.”

And the weather has been on side to ensure the track is superb order.

“The place looks fantastic at the moment,’’ Collins added.

“It’s in wonderful condition. The boys have done a great job here on course and we’re ready to go.”

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