This Week In Racing History
December
17
Mick The Miller took out the last running of the Bookmaker's Trophy (now called the Bold Trease Carnival Cup), over 513 metres at Sandown Park, in 1987. In a close finish Mick The Miller defeated Fletcher Miss by a head with Free Range only a neck away third. The following year the race was run over 716 metres.
Buddy Rich won the 2005 Christmas Gift, run over 520 metres at Wentworth Park, defeating Just Winsome and Oxley Hero. Among the unplaced division were top-class sprinters Paua To Burn and Edie Beauchamp. Buddy Rich ran a race record 29.86, clipping a significant 37/100ths off the previous standard, held by 2003 winner Dancing Habit, to pick up the $15,000 first prize money.
18
Quick Trek defeated Inch Ahead by half a length with The Earbrander a head away third in the 1990 final of the Top Cat Video Trophy, run over 424 metres at Warragul.
Shantung Tiger scored a brilliant win in the 1997 Hobart Thousand, coming out of box one to notch his 22nd victory from 32 starts in Tasmania (eight placings). The $20,000 first prize money took Shantung Tiger's earnings to $50,000. The runners-up Conrod and Market Force were both trained by Ted Medhurst.
19
How's The Fort downed Lucky Ferrari by just over a length in 30.92 in the 1992 Christmas Gift final, the first time the event had been run since the Wentworth Park track surface had been converted from grass to loam.
Victorian stayer Keon Star scored by just over six lengths from Desefiar in the 1996 West End Draught Distance Championship. Carmelina was 11 lengths away third.
20
A second running of the Maturity Classic for 1982 took place, at Olympic Park. The Maturity had traditionally been held earlier each year, and the first one for 1982 took place in January and was won by Wynlee Spirit. This second running saw Rocky Pyramid defeat South Australian finalist Superstar.
21
Brilliant Tasmanian sprinter Top Shiraz caused a boilover in the 2000 final of the Hobart Thousand when defeating the short-priced favourite Brett Lee by one length in a fast 25.91. Top Shiraz had been an unplaced finalist in the Hobart Thousand the previous year.
The first Hobart Thousand to be run over 461 metres at Tattersall's Park, Elwick was run in 2006, with Victorian sprinter Superman exiting box one to down Major Bear by almost two lengths with the classy Train A Journey third. It was also the first time the long-established classic had been worth $50,000 to the winner.
22
The first hurdle race was conducted on the new Newcastle track at Beaumont Park, in 1954.
The 2001 final of the Potential Stakes (run over 520 metres at Wentworth Park) was marred by the late scratching of Scottish Express. Montana Sky prevailed from Queenslander Waterview Star with Frosty's Token third.
23
The Paul Cauchi-trained Brettianly won the 1978 Christmas Gift for Stayers final at Harold Park, defeating Vermillion by six lengths in a race record 42.85. Third home was Nimble Twinkle, who had won the event the previous year.
The last Silver Chief Classic to be run over the 511 metres trip at Olympic Park took place in 1996. The race was taken out in stunning fashion by Awesome Assassin, who scored by nine lengths from box six for trainer Jason Thompson.