But yesterday he declared he was getting quite emotional about Winx - “she’s such a beautiful horse. She put a tear in my eye when she won today. She proved how good she was – she came from last.”

Dad’s generation grew up with heroes. There was no television for their teenage years and for a little more beyond that. The internet a distant invention.

They relied on the radio and written word to learn about their champions – and if they were really lucky to see them in the flesh.

In sport the king of their time was Sir Donald Bradman. He was without question a legend in his own lifetime.

In the days of both morning and evening newspapers, my father talks about the wireframes holding the headlines outside the corner shops and newsagencies simply saying “He’s In” or “He’s Out”.

Bradman was the dominant sports personality prior to World War Two but crucially played on at the top level after the recess period. He and his Invincibles played a huge role in raising the national spirit in the recovery from conflict.

Apart from the then-two major football codes, Australian Rules and Rugby League, cricket was really the only other sport regularly delivering the bigger names.

But the previous generation passed on many other tales of greatness which became folklore of the time – the feats of Hubert Opperman on his bike or of Dave Sands and Les Darcy in the boxing ring.

Word of mouth was just about as crucial as the written word in passing on the stories of our greats.

I’m not sure it’s the case now. When I visit primary schools to talk about the Olympics or to present sports awards, I try to always fit in a poll about famous Australian sportspeople with the class.

I ask about Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe and Cadel Evans. Sometimes others.

Not many hands ever go up. The looks on the teachers’ faces are always of shock.

But to personally recall the most famous moments for Freeman and Thorpe, their fellow Australians with the longest memories have to be at least 24.

For those who are younger, there has to be some other intervention in their lives to learn about such icons of Australian sport.

Just imagine how old the average Australian has to be to idolise living treasures like Marjorie Jackson or Dawn Fraser.

And then or course there are a myriad stars from the years in between.

It’s time we did a lot better in re-telling the stories of our past great achievers – and for sure not just in sport.

This week our annual best effort at doing this will be celebrated with the latest inductions into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

It’s always a terrific occasion that begins with the mass entrance from all the past inductees and Legends of Australian Sport who are able to be present.

Sadly it’s too well kept a secret but it does keep the spark alive from which we might succeed in getting the fire burning once again.

This month also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Mexico Olympic Games – surely one of the best editions ever of the world’s biggest sporting festival and one at which Australia did exceptionally well in testing conditions.

Michael Wenden dominated in the pool winning golds in both the 100m and 200m freestyle. Lyn McClements won the 100m butterfly.

On the track Australia won two golds – in the 800 metres to Ralph Doubell whose biography is about to be published and for Maureen Caird in the 80 metres hurdles.

But in this month’s celebrations we’ll probably hear a lot more about a bloke who came second – the late Peter Norman. Keep an eye out for his story in coming days.

At the moment he’s more famous in the USA than he is in Australia. Now’s the time to change that at least.