[2] Throughout his career Hondo Grattan was trained by A.D. "Tony" Turnbull at The Lagoon, Bathurst, NSW who part-owned him with farmers Bill and Bob Webb.

[3] Hondo Grattan finished fourth in the Australasian Four-year-old Championship at Harold Park and after an unsuccessful trip to Melbourne he contested the Australia Day Cup series in January 1973.

[3] The Inter Dominion was to be held in Sydney that year and it attracted an extremely strong field of contenders including defending champion Welcome Advice, New Zealand stars Robalan, Arapaho, Manaroa, Royal Ascot and Globe Bay, Victorian Reichman the runner-up in the 1972 Miracle Mile Pace, as well as New South Wales trained Just Too Good, Jason King and Australia Day Cup winner Bold Biami.

On the first night he beat Arapaho and Jason King before defeating Speedy Ben and Bold Biami to be the only pacer undefeated after two rounds of heats.

The third round of heats were run under free-for-all conditions but the ‘Bathurst Bulldog’ could finish no better than a dead-heat for fourth and was fortunate to make the final field.

With many of his main rivals out of play Hondo Grattan held off the finishing challenge of Adios Victor with Bret Armagh third.

The Interdominion was held in Auckland, New Zealand that year and although a strong team of Australian pacers including Hondo Grattan, Paleface Adios, Just Too Good and Royal Gaze made the trip across the Tasman, they were no match for Young Quinn who was unbeaten during the series.

His best performances during the season were a third to Paleface Adios and Don't Retreat in the Miracle Mile Pace and win over King Frost in the Hurricane Sprint.

Hondo Grattan died following a bout of colic at the age of 26 on 30 November 1994 in his yard at The Lagoon having remained at stud with Tony Turnbull after his retirement.

He was twice voted NSW Harness Horse of the Year in 1973 and 1974, and had a song written about him called "Little Hondo", which was sung by racecaller Johnny Tapp.