Biggest Win Ever in a Feature Race

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

^^Thats the one.

Got another big race winner coming up - Tux And Tails somehow will win down Albany! Never has much luck, weak field good draw and can deliver.

Markovina · January 4

Ridersonthestorm33 said:
At GP two excellent wins remember was when Justaboyden took off in a Pacing Cup woooosh never seen a pacer sprint like that.

And can’t recall it’s name now eastern states horse won the Golden Nugget coming from an impossible position top of the straight. Amazing effort.

Re your Golden Nugget , i know the horse you mean , i think it was driven by Gavin Lang and trained by Grant Crane , son of Gary Crane who played in Carlton Premiership teams . And as Chariots has consistently said , sometimes the best races are when someone slaughters their horse . And in that race possibly a NSW horse driven by Bruce Wood , he might have taken off mid race to clap the pace on and got stuck 3 wide , and thats why we got the exciting /screamer of a finish

Markovina · January 4

JayJay said:
Agree.....have a look at last night's Auckland Cup won by Republican Party and young Carter Dalgetty. They actually apply the whip rule in NZ, reining up and urging but no flogging.

Also take note of how well the young fellow presented in interview, polite, circumspect, on point, no vaudeville act, not trying to be funny or trade jokes, just played a straight bat. Excellent.

The treatment that Gammalite copped, and Steelo over east, and Hondo Grattan, was a disgrace, and a stark comparison as to how they were driven over here. And they went just as good if not better.

But the wrist only flicking rule is paid scant regard by many drivers and officials. Bad, bad look.

Look i know it is in the wrong title , but i have to reply to when you say quote " The treatment Gammalite copped and Steelo over East and Hondo Grattan was a disgrace and a stark comparison as to how they were driven over here "

That is the biggest load of utter biased tripe , rubbish , biggest load of craap that ive had the missfortune of reading on this forum

You are referring to Bruce Clarke Tony Turnbull Brian Gath and Ted Demmler

Honestly re whip use , Lou Austin would make those 4 look like choir boys . With pro golfers the long hitters , they have tremendous club head speed . Well no one had a quicker whip speed than Lou Austin , he was like a machine , and when Lou hit them they stayed hit

Another example 1982 Inter Dom Final at GP - the one Rhetts Law won a standing start

They started in the back straight it was a standing start i was standing right at that start , id backed Popular Alm , i wanted to see if it stepped, the Knights were terrified it wouldnt step so they asked for it to be outside the draw , so it was on the 2nd line , to its outside was Burrows , it could have been on a handicap mark and slightly behind it . I was very close to Burrows so i had a perfect view . Burrows was a mare and driven by Kevin Keys , it was in an absolute sour pig of a mood , lashing out , it was a trillion to one to step . So Keys and i thought it was a good bit of horsemanship , he gave Burrows 2 hard cracks with his whip around its back legs low down to try to get it to behave so it was a chance of stepping

Now did B Clarke B Gath T Demmler or Tony Turnbull ever give their champion horses over East , 2 hard cracks with their whip around their back legs just before they jumped in a major race , i would say no

So come on Jay Jay give us your views on one of your precious West Australian buddies Kevin Keys giving Burrows 2 hard cracks with his whip on its lower legs just before they jumped in the 82 Inter Dom final .

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

Was Beefy Tee Marko can’t think who drove it now a Queensland driver possibly..was last or second last into the straight…and don’t think did a hell of a lot after that win. Didn’t think was Gavin Lang but how many races did that guy time it to win by a nose, never seen anything like it before or since, Grant Dixon can be a little like that but Lang did it with regularity. Photo - nose in it - Lang gets it.

Was watching the 1974 Gloucester Park Interdom replay the other day and if you see Welcome Advice inside of the 10 metre mark from the stand began very well he’s nearly through the trouble and then at the last second gets caught up in it… still say the way it began nearly wins otherwise.

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

Later on in his career there was a race where even the commentator was shocked Lang lost by a nose was so rare to see that. How he could consistently time it to win by a slender margin beats me.

Eventually have to lose one and that was one of not many.

You’d hear punters in frustration what’s Lang doing he’s not trying on the favourite, just wait a little longer, he’s got there. That’s a memory of him have.

Markovina · January 4

Ridersonthestorm33 said:
Was Beefy Tee Marko can’t think who drove it now a Queensland driver possibly..was last or second last into the straight…and don’t think did a hell of a lot after that win. Didn’t think was Gavin Lang but how many races did that guy time it to win by a nose, never seen anything like it before or since, Grant Dixon can be a little like that but Lang did it with regularity. Photo - nose in it - Lang gets it.

Was watching the 1974 Gloucester Park Interdom replay the other day and if you see Welcome Advice inside of the 10 metre mark from the stand began very well he’s nearly through the trouble and then at the last second gets caught up in it… still say the way it began nearly wins otherwise.

No the horse i was thinking of was the Victorian champ Manifold Bay , when it won the 2001 WA Derby , its a great race , the race is on You Tube , and its a mighty win ( The Falcon Strike was in the field ) it comes from last

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

Yes remember Manifold Bay it came here with massive wraps on it.

They were bloody strong fields back then too with depth. The eastern states and NZ horses came here without hesitation - Blossom Lady, Master Musician came across the ditch to compete - doesn’t happen now, or rarely.

When those Kiwis had a place in the Interdom final sewn up could be some interesting drives for the final round of heats.

savethegame · January 4

Beefy T was N,Z horse trainer J, Green driver Rod Chambers flew late grabbed Tabaret on the post,

Ausdrill won the naming rights for the inters, so syndicate predominantly Kalgoorlie blokes & Aus drills major owner purchased Tabaret for 150k to race in Ausdrill colours. in1996 inters at G.P.

Think John Green trained in W,A somewhere along the line Andrew Decampo drove for him. Beefy T, Won Chariots of Fire

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

Recall the trotter Knight Pistol winning a few times when shouldn’t have, a win at Globe Derby stands out and another at Moonee Valley also it could beat the pacers which did happen from time to time.

Also forgotten there names now but those bulldogs Lance Justice had one of them you’d back something else in the race and if fortunate enough to head it up the straight always felt you’d have to put another 10 metres on it otherwise would comeback and beat you. Was a hard horse to put away, never laid down.

savethegame · January 4

WHIRLY DREAM, SOKYOLA, SMOKEN UP,

Ironic Marko Sokyola's owner Colin Croft was the owner of Markovina still going in his nineties

Markovina · January 4

Maoris Idol winning 2 heats ( against big name pacers ) and 2nd in the final of the Sir Clive Uhr Championship , fantastic stuff from a Trotter up against the Pacers

And after watching a replay of those 2 heats and the 2001 WA Derby , how good or should i say outstanding are the calls of Wayne Wilson and John Hunt

Ridersonthestorm33 · January 4

That was a freakish trotter saw a replay maybe an inters trotting final Moonee Valley biggest certainty beaten ever seen.

Sokyola and Smoken Up were the tough cookies STG, that Sokyola one night at Globe Derby beaten and got off the canvas to win. Both could do that.

savethegame · January 4

Marko here's one for you, your laying a bit leather,first off never been fan of Phil Coulson,but with Gammailte in question Coulson & Clarke you can't compare there use of whip.

What about the famous protest Markovina V Pure Steel Gath V Shinn.
Shinn had Gath in pocket hoisted him in for the bell, don't know the reason how Shinn dropped his whip
.Pure Steel was forced off the track Protest dismissed
Gath got four weeks for the interference.
Australian championship Harold park 76.Margin was a head.

Markovina · January 4

savethegame said:
Marko here's one for you, your laying a bit leather,first off never been fan of Phil Coulson,but with Gammailte in question Coulson & Clarke you can't compare there use of whip.

What about the famous protest Markovina V Pure Steel Gath V Shinn.
Shinn had Gath in pocket hoisted him in for the bell, don't know the reason how Shinn dropped his whip
.Pure Steel was forced off the track Protest dismissed
Gath got four weeks for the interference.
Australian championship Harold park 76.Margin was a head.

The real tragedy , is there is no replay of the race , that was a fantastic race , Gathy came out really late at the bell i can remember that what id give to watch it now

But accross alot of Australian sports , the idiots threw out all this great/memorable film , oh dear

JayJay · January 4

Fortunately, the "idiots" didn't throw out film of the 1980 Inters Grand Final.

warrenrobinson · January 4

JayJay said:
Fortunately, the "idiots" didn't throw out film of the 1980 Inters Grand Final.

I was at Harold Park the night of the 1980 final and watched the race from the top of the straight, turning for home Pure Steel was going to run last after a torrid run and getting belted by Demmler, still can't believe he runs third and until this day the biggest run on a trotting track I've ever seen. Not sure of the crowd number but couldn't fit in a mouse. Pure Steel the greatest of all time.

savethegame · January 4

My Father was mate of Jack Retzlaff they were in Lighthorse together, Jay Jay has mentioned your father was Pure Steel's farrier,. Jack in our lounge room was telling us that after he won 1977 Hunter Cup., He told Russell Roberts he needed to be reshod prior to Mircale Mile & would prefer his normal farrier.

Roberts replied surely, we can find one in Sydney, Jack told him you find one (good one). The vision of 1977 Mircale Mile shows him rough at release, last all the way came back he had sliced through his shin & tendon boot, Russell said what went wrong, Jack Said i told him #$^&K*&----What Went Wrong. holding the boot.

JayJay · January 5

savethegame said:
Beefy T was N,Z horse trainer J, Green driver Rod Chambers flew late grabbed Tabaret on the post,

Ausdrill won the naming rights for the inters, so syndicate predominantly Kalgoorlie blokes & Aus drills major owner purchased Tabaret for 150k to race in Ausdrill colours. in1996 inters at G.P.

Think John Green trained in W,A somewhere along the line Andrew Decampo drove for him. Beefy T, Won Chariots of Fire

See History Channel thread for an expansion on Beefy T's exploits and John Green.

warrenrobinson · January 5

savethegame said:
My Father was mate of Jack Retzlaff they were in Lighthorse together, Jay Jay has mentioned your father was Pure Steel's farrier,. Jack in our lounge room was telling us that after he won 1977 Hunter Cup., He told Russell Roberts he needed to be reshod prior to Mircale Mile & would prefer his normal farrier.
Roberts replied surely, we can find one in Sydney, Jack told him you find one (good one). The vision of 1977 Mircale Mile shows him rough at release, last all the way came back he had sliced through his shin & tendon boot, Russell said what went wrong, Jack Said i told him #$^&K*&----What Went Wrong. holding the boot.

I have a pattern of Pure Steels shoe.

Markovina · January 5

warrenrobinson said:

JayJay said:
Fortunately, the "idiots" didn't throw out film of the 1980 Inters Grand Final.
I was at Harold Park the night of the 1980 final and watched the race from the top of the straight, turning for home Pure Steel was going to run last after a torrid run and getting belted by Demmler, still can't believe he runs third and until this day the biggest run on a trotting track I've ever seen. Not sure of the crowd number but couldn't fit in a mouse. Pure Steel the greatest of all time.

It was a tremendous run by Pure Steel no doubt

Some " idiot" a while back said Demmler slaughtered PS in that final , that same "idiot" didnt rate Popular Alm , a horse that beat Gammalite 21 out of 23 , but for some idiotic reason he didnt rate it

Can you tell me what Ted Demmler did wrong ?? , he made his move at the perfect time , to get the breeze , and if he had of he wins the race easily , But 2 of them come off the fence probably illegally , and the 2nd one wouldnt give up the breeze , so whats Teddy supposed to do !!!!

Russell Roberts the owner of Pure Steel , not some keyboard warrior and Russell certainly didnt tolerate " idiots " or fools , and when Demmler won the AG Hunter Cup on Pure Steel , Russell Roberts said quote " Teddy is the best driver in the world "

savethegame · January 5

Russell R oberts got six months in 1977 refused to appeal against his suspension.for offensive behaviour unless the committee intervene Pure Steel and Ex Adios will be scratched this afternoon, Bandsman & Aboukir. Emergency runners will start what was that over they ended starting finishing 1, Pure Steel 2 Ex Adios.

warrenrobinson · January 5

Russell must have received the entitled treatment.

Markovina · January 5

There was a bit more going on in that 80 Inter Dom series

From memory the only way Koala King qualifies for the final is it had to win in its 3rd and final heat , and in that heat the fave for that heat and maybe also leading points scorer at the time was a horse trained and driven by Hancocks brother Richard

And back then when we had top class stewards , they grilled R Hancock to about midnight re his drive in that 3rd heat ( KK won and thus gets into the final ) they basically put it to him that you didnt try properly , if you did and win the heat then your brothers horse doesnt qualify etc

I think a few of the drivers drove to beat PS , particularly the breeze horse , who was that and who drove it

JayJay · January 5

On January 3rd, 1977, Ex Adios finished 2nd to Lord Frisco in the 7th Qualifying Division of the WA Cup. he was relegated to 5th place after causing interference to Virgil Queen.

The often entitled Roberts "demanded" to see the film of the race. His "request" was denied. Ex Adios's driver, Jack Retzlaff was suspended for 4 weeks for causing interference. Roberts returned to the Stewards Room with a second more considered "request" to see the film. He was informed it was a very busy race night, the stewards could accommodate his request to see the film the next morning.

Angry, Roberts left the room, slamming the door as he went. Called back and reprimanded, he challenged the stewards to suspend him. They did....from all activities in trotting and referred him to the committee, as was the way in those days. The WATA was the controlling body pre RWWA up until 2003. Some say little has changed.

Roberts made two statements about the incident. In one, he said he realised he should not have behaved in the manner he did. "I apologised at today's hearing".

In the other statement, Roberts denied that he had slammed the door. 'without thinking and not intentionally, I closed it too sharply".

Pure Steel won the 8th Qualifying division that night for Phil Coulson and Roberts threatened to withdraw both Pure Steel and Ex Adios from the final. This caused considerable consternation among the committee given the amount of pre post investment on the final and the draw card that Pure Steel was. Nonetheless, they (the committee) imposed a sentence of 6 months on Roberts for offensive behaviour. The WATA Committee was all powerful back in the day.

It then degenerated into a game of bluff and counter bluff. Roberts refused to appeal, a course that would have permitted the committee to vary the penalty.....and then sat back, confident in the knowledge that Pure Steels enormous worth as a draw card would force the committee's hand.

The potency of this belief is well founded. The committee met and decided "in the best interests of trotting and the public" (and not stated but also in the best interests of Roberts) to replace the suspension with a fine of $400. Both Pure Steel and ex Adios started in the Cup Final and finished first and second. Pure Steel at 7/2 and Ex Adios at 50/1.

There was immediate uproar with the then local paper "The Independent" (the Hancock/Wright tabloid) stating "One Law For The rich And One for The Poor". A comparison was made to the disqualification of veteran Ray Gould for offensive behaviour. This was overturned to a suspension but the length of the term remained unchanged. It was claimed a grave injustice had been done to the far lower profile Gould.

Roberts then followed up with some more statements that aged poorly. He would "never race his horses at Gloucester Park while the current stewards panel was in control" (Local Product and Ex Adios were already racing in the Eastern States), making it two states where he would "never race again" (Queensland after Pure Steel was "outrageously" given a back mark handicap in the Queensland Inters Series). Roberts must have forgotten that Pure Steel won that Cup from a handicap of 20m when he beat Ex Adios. Like many of Roberts "big" statements, it wasn't long before Pure Steel was back racing at Gloucester Park to win next years Cup Final against Nixon Adios and Rip Van Winkle, and annex the great horses second successive WA Cup.

A very prominent trotting journo, now long retired, often remarked that Roberts was "an awful winner and an even worse loser". It was all on his terms or it was nothing. I am not 100% sure about that but there is a fair body of evidence to support it.

Markovina · January 5

He might have been abrasive and a shocking winner and a shocking loser , but Trotting today would give anything to have a R Roberts in the rank

Because today Trotting is basically bankrupt , basically irrelevant , going down without a wimp , theres no publicity , very few are prepared to stand on anyones toes or rock the boat , i mean this ridiculous waste of money re the GP redevelopment ( if that is the correct word ) i mean Bond Hall and the rest of them might be lovely blokes and great winners and losers but none of them are prepared to tip a bucket on it

IF RR thought it was a massive waste of money - he would publicly tip an allmighty bucket on it - he would embarrass them severely , he couldnt careless whose nose he put out of joint

And that bloke who was on the massive 800k salary , i think Russell might have made a few choice public words about that as well

JayJay · January 5

Richard Hancock drove Lehigh Lad for Fran Donohue in that series.

savethegame · January 5

Jay Jay you cleared that one up.

Notice V.K.and yourself have mentioned Bonny Sweetapple as major owner plus player for Swan districts, today looking for another footballer from the 30s when Goldfields combined side beat South Australian State team.
Noticed F.G Bonny Sweetapple played one season in premiership side for Boulders said he had come from West Perth, then a later article mentioned then to S D played 127 games after his season on Goldfields
Always remember seeing his name in ownership of Jim Schrader horses. What was his best horses he owned

JayJay · January 5

Almost impossible to answer STG. Firstly, he was an "FA" Sweetapple, not an "FG"...Frederick Arthur Sweetapple. He kicked the first ever goal for Swans when they entered the WANFL and did play 127 league games.

He owned numerous Hotels from Yarloop in the south to Central Perth establishments, all accompanied by one or more operatives specialising in the SP Trade out the back room or in the carpark or whatever the case may be.

He was a character was Bonnie, a generous supporter of many causes and owned numerous good horses. Some he raced on his own "Mr F.A and Mrs R Sweetapple", many with Phil Coulson such as Lord Mina who won a WA Cup with Phil driving (circa 1966) and was runner up to Color Glo the next year with Warren's Dad, LJ in the cart. Others such as Beatnik Boy, too many to mention down at Herdsmans Lake.

He also raced horses in partnership with Bernie Ogden, such as Vera Hanks and he formed a powerful partnership with butcher Bob Smith (R.L Smith) most of whom were trained by Jim Schrader. Smith, to complicate matters, also raced horses individually such as Clancy Bar and a favourite of Coulsons, Officers Attack.

Later on, Bonny raced horses with Lyle Lindau training, such as the superb little chestnut Typhson.

But it is a very deep rabbit hole you have asked me to go down, and at 9.30 pm having done more than my fair share of attending to certain posts tonight, I am going to politely decline. Bonny's ownership trail is a veritable labyrinth with so many co owners and is a researchers nightmare. So, this "keyboard warrior" or "idiot" (take your pick) will leave it there. This time of the year my mind focuses on Busselton, perhaps the last of the really well attended grassroots clubs and my favourite time of the season.

savethegame · January 5

Thanks Jay Jay didn't realise had sent you to the 2800 level at the lake view star, so owned a couple., have notice the vision regards crowd size at Busselton pity they couldn't use old regal carts and then could have ten in a race.

JayJay · January 5

Crowds at Busso have been enormous over Boxing Day and New Years Day but they make it terribly hard for them by flooding the calendar with meetings for the lower class horses at Albany, Gloucester Park etc....strangling them to a slow death. They (RWWA) have finally....after much prompting and stout resistance... accepted the gratuitous advice on offer from many quarters and taken on board some new programming codes for Busselton which may hopefully improve fields.

On field sizes, I think a max of 8, considering all of the prevailing circumstances, is the correct decision.

In the further useless information department, when Bonnie raced horses with Bernie Ogden, Charlie Rifici was often the trainer and Bob Smith used Jim Schrader for horses in his own name. Smith's colours are now the Reed Stable (blue, white sash, red sleeves) and Bonnies colours paid deference to his Swan Districts background (black, white sleeves and red armbands).

Big link with Swans and the trots.....Cooper, Charleson, Sangalli, Gartrell, Slater, George, Guidice....one day I'll make a list. I like making lists. They come in handy to counteract false information, fake claims and general misconceptions. They irritate the hell out of "bull***t artists.

G'day Punter!

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