This Week In Racing History
December
10
Melbourne celebrated the popular new sport of greyhound racing behind a mechanical lure with the opening of the White City circuit at Tottenham in 1927.
Victorian sprinter Zazziam used box one to full effect and took out the 1994 NSW St Leger (now the Paws of Thunder) by three lengths from Wary Andy, running a race record 30.55.
11
Bounty set a new track record time of 24.1 for 440 yards on the loam surface at Harold Park in 1937. This clipped 2/10ths from the previous record held by eight greyhounds. On the same night, Collin set a new track record time of 39.6 for the 700 yards trip, taking 3/10ths off the previous mark set just over six months earlier.
Arctic Flame set a new track record time of 29 14/16 for 560 yards at Olympic Park in 1972, taking 1/16th off the previous record held by NSW star Woolley Wilson.
True Vintage scored a hollow nine lengths victory in the 1987 Coca Cola Cup, run over 520 metres at Launceston, defeating Bookie's Regret and Riverbank Twig and earning $1,500 for trainer Margaret Crosswell.
12
Promises Free downed Admiral Lynch by five lengths to win the 1981 NSW St Leger, at what was only her third race start. Promises Free would go on to win her next 11 races in a row, including the Bi-Annual Classic (now the Peter Mosman Memorial) and the NCA Futurity.
Thorgil Tex won the 1994 Bendigo Cup by six lengths from Red Card and True Type, at what was the last occasion the event was run in December. No race was held in 1995, but in March 1996 when the Bendigo Cup was resumed, the third placegetter from 1994, True Type, scored a strong victory.
13
The only time the NSW St Leger was run at Harold Park saw Memories Gate down Tom's Two and Dixie Cup in the final, in 1986. The Kevin Johns-trained sprinter exited box one to score by a length.
The last meeting was held at the White City track in Launceston in 2004, almost 50 years to the day since the course had reopened following a remodelling and nearly 72 years since racing had first commenced at the location.
14
Another Flash downed Legendary Kid and Camden's Ghost to win the 1985 NSW St Leger, the last time it was held over 530 metres at Wentworth Park. The track was later closed for extensive remodelling.
Champion sprinter Flying Amy annexed the final of the 1995 Eukanuba Cup (now known as the Winter Carnival Cup), run over 520 metres at Albion Park, defeating Jurassic Vapour by five lengths with Tenthill Doll third. Flying Amy ran the trip in a race record 29.99 to pick up the $50,000 first prize money. The time was not eclipsed until 2003.
15
Mantra Lad set a new 650 metres track record at Sale in 2009, running 36.71.
The Andrea Dailly-trained sprinter Dyna Tron took out the 2011 Hobart Thousand defeating local hero Rewind by just a head to pick up the $75,000 first prize money.
16
Likely Light scored a sensational victory over rank outsider Millaska in the 1972 NSW St Leger, coming from well back to down the front runner by one length in a fast 31.1. Six lengths away third was favourite Benny McGrath, who had broken the long-standing 580 yards (530 metres) track record in the semi-finals the previous week but found trouble from his unfavourable box six draw.