Another milestone for Bessy Boo with 100th Wentworth Park start
EVERGREEN veteran Bessy Boo (pictured) made history on July 6 when the black son of Bekim Bale and My Black Bess contested his 100th race at Wentworth Park. The Christine Proctor-trained all-distance performer exited box one in a Free For All but could not produce the ‘Hollywood ending', finishing unplaced.
This was his 92nd run over the 520m trip and he has also raced eight times over 720m (for three wins, one second and one third).
Bessy Boo broke the record for the most number of wins ever recorded at Wentworth Park earlier this year and has gone on to create a set of numbers that is unlikely to be matched.
Bessy Boo has scored 31 wins at Wentworth Park, 28 over the 520m trip. He has also run 18 seconds and 17 thirds.
Overall, Bessy Boo has now competed 133 times for 41 wins, 24 seconds and 23 thirds, earnings in excess of $316,000 in prize money.
He notably became a member of a fairly exclusive club of performers to notch a victory at their 100th race start, fittingly achieving it at Wentworth Park.
Prior to Bessy Boo's efforts, the record for the most number of sprint victories over the 520m trip was held by Stately Bird, at 25.
The most for wins over the old 530m trip (pre-1987) was held by Turbo Top, at 22 (although she also won three over the 722m journey). Bessy Boo has now well and truly put a ‘gap' on those former stars.
He has also well and truly put a space between himself and other greyhounds who have raced numerous times at the Glebe circuit.
Prior to Bessy Boo, the record for the most number of starts at Wentworth Park was held by Magic Hand. Trained by Richard Dean, the red brindle dog went around headquarters an amazing 89 times between 2001 and 2004 and collected 11 wins. Despite Bessy Boo's efforts, Magic Hand still holds the record for the most number of second placings at Wentworth Park, an extraordinary 23.
Another who raced heavily at the track was the recently retired sprinter Did I Entertain. He lived up to his name at Wentworth Park, entertaining the crowds 83 times over 520m, for 24 wins and 27 placings.
Another recent retirement, Queen Esther, also raced 83 times at the track, notching 17 wins and 20 placings for trainer Noelene Holloway.
Others to have competed on a large number of occasions include Orphan Point, who won 15 races over the sprint journey and registered 15 seconds and 10 thirds from 71 outings and Benny's Alarm, who raced 67 times for retired trainer Don McMillan over 520m at the course and managed to register 20 wins and 15 placings.
Former top stayer Pearl Larricki is worth mentioning as she raced 60 times at Wentworth Park in a career which spanned 83 starts. Of those 60 races at headquarters Pearl Larricki competed 38 times over 520m for just five wins, yet in 22 starts at 720m she notched 14 wins and five placings.