This Week In Racing History

November
12

The first successful full meeting of the newly-opened track at took place, in 1927. The track had been opened in early October but the meeting had been abandoned after a single race, which was declared a trial after the hare mechanism failed. The successful meeting was run by the Humane Coursing Society, headed by Rufe Naylor.

Eagle's Banner broke the 580 yards track record at in 1966, running 31.0 to break the previous mark of 31.1 first set by Saskaview in 1962 and since equalled by Revwood, Best Sun, and Roman Earl.

Cool Train set a new track record of 44.74 over 749 metres at in 1999.

13
Casual Encounter scored by almost three lengths in the 1993 City of Gold Cup, downing Harlem Great and Perro Star. The Rick Fall-trained sprinter was sired by New Tears, who had won the 1987 City of Ipswich Gold Cup.

Glen Abbey Doll, trained by Jason Mackay, defeated Kibble Kruncha by a nose to take out the 2006 . Queensland stayer Quidame was just over a length away third.

14
Samantha Queen defeated Essex Court and Don Zero in the 1972 Metropolitan Cup run at Lawnton. The winner received $200 for the victory.

Silver Saul from South Australia annexed the 2002 Sandown Shootout, defeating Thunder Creek of Queensland with Modern Assassin third.

15
National Lee broke the 13-year-old 732 metres track record at in 1982, running 42.69 to clip a mere 1/100th off the mark set, on two occasions, by Bunyip Bint in 1969.

The Darren McDonald-trained Cool Effort blitzed the 2007 Sandown Shootout field to score by five lengths from with Betty's Angel a further four and a quarter lengths away third. Queenslander was fourth and last.

16
Trained by veteran mentor Ed Tucker, Gold Grotto used box one to perfection to win the 1972 Melbourne Cup, winning by three lengths from NSW contender Benny McGrath with seven lengths away third. Trouble at the first turn saw the smart Miss Baines come to grief. It was the last time the race was run over 555 yards (507 metres) and the last occasion that times were recorded to a sixteenth of a second. Gold Grotto ran the trip in 30 6/16 which was a new race record.

Street Wise became the last track record holder for the 732 metres trip at Harold Park when he set a new mark of 42.63 in 1985. Although it was hand timed, officials allowed the run to be classified as a new track record, clipping 4/100ths from the previous track and world record of 42.67, set by Shy Julie 11 months earlier.

17
Irish Dragon won the second running of the Frank Kennedy Memorial, in 1978. Harvest Imp, which had won the inaugural running the previous year, finished seventh. Run over 537 metres at Richmond, the race was held to commemorate the memory of the former race caller and commentator who had long been a supporter of the Richmond circuit.

18
Leicester Edie defeated Vic's Dream by seven lengths in the 1972 final of the , the first and only time the race was run over 585 yards (535 metres) as a handicap.

Mr Boswell headed an all-Victorian finish to the 2000 Summer Cup final run over 720 metres at Wentworth Park. The Lauren Gorman-trained stayer downed Valley Cowgirl by a length with Bring The Bacon third.

El Grand Senor scored arguably his most impressive career victory in taking out the 2010 Melbourne Cup by just over six lengths from Symmetry and Dee Winter. Trained by Carolyn Jones, El Grand Senor pocketed $175,000 for connections.

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