This Week in Racing History
MAY
7th
In the closest finish of any Ladies Bracelet final, Nimity Streak won the 1977 running at Harold Park by half a head from Donna's Tosca with Hoolahan a nose away third.
Champion sprinter Winifred Bale took out the 1983 Ladies Bracelet final at Harold Park to finally give her trainer Allen Wheeler a success in the event. Wheeler had previously come closest with Mercia Bale running second in the 1978 running (and then third the following year).
Bold Trease won his second successive Sandown Cup, in 1987. The superstayer stormed home from a seemingly impossible position to overwhelm the classy High Intensity and Galaxy Spirit (who dead-heated for second) to score by two lengths. Many pundits consider this victory to be the standout of Bold Trease's four wins in the event.
Tonelli Bale took out the 2011 Ladies Bracelet final at Wentworth Park for trainer Graeme Bate. The Victorian mentor rugged no less than five of the finalists and collected second (Shereen Bale) and third (Darya Bale) to take a clean sweep of the placings.
8th
Mandarin Girl became the first Victorian to win the Ladies Bracelet when she took out the 1976 running at Harold Park for trainer Reg Darvill. Mandarin Girl would go on to be named NSW Greyhound of the Year for 1976.
Bonjase defeated Kid Grant and Windarra Lass to win the 1995 Australian Cup, the last to be held at the soon-to-be-closed Olympic Park track. It was also the first Australian Cup final to be held in May.
9th
Tasmanian champion Oak Queen ploughed through pouring rain over 790 yards (722 metres) at Wentworth Park to win the 1959 Autumn Stake final by eight lengths.
Paris In Spring won the 1987 Ladies Bracelet final, the last to be held over 457 metres at Harold Park. The track was closed down a few months later and all Sydney city racing conducted at Wentworth Park.
10th
Gold Spring won the 1980 Ladies Bracelet final at Harold Park, defeating Supreme Dot and Oberon Lily. This was her second successive victory in the race, making her the first (and, as at 2014) the only greyhound to have won the race twice.
Bold Trease had his last race start, in 1990, contesting a heat of the Sandown Cup. The champion finished fourth and was retired with a record of 51 wins from 104 starts.
11th
Gay Rajah won the 1989 Sandown Sprint Championship, run over 511 metres, defeating star sprinter Hay Dinney by three and a half lengths in a race record 30.33.
Keon Star took out the 1995 Sandown Cup final, defeating Our Stewy and NSW stayer Dave's Cruiser, for trainer Robert Crisafi. The race was worth $20,000 to the winner, but a year later this was doubled.
12
Thunder Sue took out the 1973 Ladies Bracelet at Harold Park, leading from the first turn to record her 10th win in 20 career starts, five of those wins being in the city.
Miss Hot Gossip blitzed her rivals in the 2007 West Australian Oaks at Cannington, scoring by six lengths from Connie's Token in a race record 30.43 for trainer Jason Thompson.
13th
The Shoe equalled the Singleton 510 yards (466 metres) track record in 1967, scoring by four lengths in 26.9.
Shane's Monaro scored by five lengths in the 1972 Ladies Bracelet final at Harold Park for trainer Bob Doak. Shapely Escort, the winner of the inaugural Ladies Bracelet the previous year and fastest semi-final winner, finished fourth.
Magenta Rose won the 2006 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park, downing November Savanna and first reserve Miss Porsca. The second reserve, Sweet Hand, had also obtained a start, from box 2, making this race the only major final (to the best of my knowledge) to have both reserves gaining a start.