The Weekly Wrap – 38 years strong

A very happy new year to you all from the team at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club & welcome along to the first edition on the weekly wrap for 2016. Well on Wednesday night we reached another milestone at the track with the 38th anniversary of the track opening here at Morshead Park. We’ve seen many things come and go but one thing is for certain, greyhound racing is at it’s strongest and can only get stronger and more professional into the future, so here’s to another 38 years and beyond.

The Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club was formed in 1935 and was originally located at “Broadway Park” in Creswick Road, before the Club built a new racing complex over a 3 year period at Morshead Park, on the corner of Rubicon and Sutton st.

The first race meeting at the new track at Morshead Park was conducted on Saturday 23rd December 1978.

History shows that the first race on the new track was won by Eddy Torado which won from Box No. 1 and was trained by W.R. Dalton. On that program there was a special match race with prize money of $1,000 between Melbourne Cup winner Tangaloa and Sandown track record holder Darville’s Flyer, with Darville’s Flyer being the eventual winner.

The club then underwent a 3.2 million dollar redevelopment to the track and grandstand in 2012. The project included new dining and function facilities as well as several improvements to making the safest, fastest possible track with high quality Burrumbeet sand, a new lure system, split timing and semaphore board, new lighting and fencing and water saving irrigation system. The first race on the new track was a Special Event for local trainers only over the 450mtr journey and was taken out by Hurunui Hitman for the late Stephen Mckenna in 25.24.

Mondays Racing 

Mondays card was the run of the mill Tier 3 meet. There were a few handy performances that may see a few step up and continue in full stakes fields.

Senni William showed brilliant box speed to break his maiden status going 8.35 early to hang and in 22.45. The son of Oaks Road is still ver green and looks and if racing will keep on improving him.

Cyclone Rosie took out race 4 in good fashion coming from off the speed and recording win number 2 from 7 starts with 1 other minor placing. The daughter of Magic Sprite keeps on improving and learning with every start and looks as if she can step up.

Cyclone Rosie finishes the stronger in race 4

Wednesday Nights Racing

Wednesday nights anniversary meeting didn’t disappoint with 4x 390mtr grade 7 heats, a winning return of a very very good greyhound in pop the cork, the 545 Strides Function Centre final and the 38th Anniversary Trophy.

The 4 heats were the first 4 races on the card

Heat 1 was won by new mum, Anita Courts and her dog Onslaught in 22.40 leading all the way.

Heat 2 was a demolition job by the speedy Deadset Jet, bounding straight to the front and winning by a commanding 8 3/4 lengths in 22.31

Heat 3 is a good story, The John Spizzirri trained Telling Lies jumped and lead all the way in 22.27 but was all smooth sailing talking to John after the race he said she had trialled super here on the previous Saturday and was looking forward to the race but to find the next day she had pulled up lame in the wrist with huge amounts of fluid in the wrist area. When he got the greyhound checked they discovered it was only a popped shoulder and was easily fixed much to Johns relief.

Heat 4 was taken out by Burn Early who did just that. Him and Iconic Rock went toe to toe in the early stages reeling off a split of 8.29 but the Bartolo trained dog proved to strong winning in 22.25.

We also seen the return of very promising greyhound by the name of Pop The Cork. The son of Brett Lee burnt the track up reeling off some unbelievable splits, recording 6.45, 11.08 down the back (somebody get the hose!) to win by and ever widening 6 1/4 lengths in 25.02 #AIRBOURNE

Speaking with Jason after the race he was wrapped with the effort then going on to say he had only had 4 trials leading into the first up start after 5 months off due to a shoulder injury. Keep your eyes on him ladies and gents, he’s 3 parts aeroplane.

Dublin bull took out the Strides Function Centre 545mtr Final bounding straight to the front and recording a zippy 30.84.

Our 38th Anniversary Trophy looked to be a competitive race on paper with speed drawn across the whole track. Aston Bolero was sent out $4.10 fav in a open race, the Thompson trained greyhound missed the kick slightly from box 7 before shoving through, Phaser Bale bounded straight to the front early with West On Teddy booting up on the inside and Dawkins Bale, Sisco Rage and Major Curly right there all vying for there spots heading into the first turn. Sisco Rage was the 1 that had to give getting severely checked in turn checking Dawkins Bale, Major Curly and Shared Bonus. Aston Bolero took over going into the first turn and putting 2 lengths on the field but round the home turn running off into the middle of the track leaving a rails run for Phaser Bale but just holding on to win by neck.

Pop The Cork returns in fine fashion 

Local Winners

The local lads and ladies have had a ripping start to 2016 with 13 individual winners around the state with a stack of placing as well.

The bragging rights go to team Brennan this week, actually Daryl Brennan with Colin away holidaying.

The ultra consistent Uptown Funk won at Ballarat in 25.47 & Darcy Rose winning at Ballarat also in 25.61.

other winners were: Texas Blaze for Chrissy Stanton at Warrnambool in 22.72, Iconic Rock for Deb Carr at Ballarat in 22.23 flying early going 8.29, Taz’s Man for newly appointed committee member Geoff Bumpstead at Warrnambool in 25.19, Red Light Runner for Daryl Weightman at Healsville in 19.35, Call Me Hank, the Healsville specialist won for Gary Hansen also in 19.35, Senni William Broke through for Billy Innes at Ballarat in 22.45, Hestia Bale for Troy Scott at Ballarat over the tough 660mrts in 38.57, Despedida for Verity Cotton at Horsham in 23.28, Baroness Molly also won at Horsham for Alf King in 23.46, Darley Million broke her maiden for Travis Monaghan at Bendigo in 29.06 and last but not least Jive time for Joey Borg at Ballarat in 25.36.

There are some good propitiations heading into next week for the locals hers a few to watch out for:

Rosie Rocks at Warrnambool R6 Box 2. Ideally Drawn

Juggie Superfish at Bendigo R1 Box 3. Improver

Zac’s a Sixpence at Ballarat R8 Box 6. Should be to good

Greyhound of the year leaderboard