TROTTING Young Betty First In Main Greymouth Race

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 4

TROTTING Young Betty First In Main Greymouth Race

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, January 4.

Young Betty ran a solid trial for the £5OO Greymouth Gup on Saturday in the H. W. Kitchingham Handicap, main event on the first day of the Greymouth Trotting Club’s mid-summer meeting today.

In a three-horse finish, Young Betty won by half a length, beating the fast-finishing Stand In. Only half a head separated Stand In and Young Betty’s New Brighton stablemate, Heathmount, which was third.

Young Betty, an aged bay mare by Young Bob from Pompous, was one of the best to begin, was fourth at the half-mile and a rapidly-improving third on the home turn.

Young Betty finished doggedly and was in front half a furlong out. Stand In’s second was a good one, as he was several places from the leader early and had five in front of him starting the last lap. Under the urging of M. Holmes he finished resolutely in the straight and nosed Heathmount out of second in the last few strides. Heathmount and Young Betty are both trained at New Brighton by G. Cameron. Young Betty is owned by Mr W. F. Woolley, an Aylesbury farmer, and Heathmount races in Cameron’s own colours.

The two, with Stand I.i and most of the others in today’s field, will clash again on Saturday in the Greymouth Cup. Young Betty’s win today completed the double, the first leg having been won earlier by Broderick Bay. For £1 the combination paid £34 4s 6d. Brilliant Finish Broderick Bay finished brilliantly over the last halffurlong to win the Victoria Park Handicap and qualify tor the Greymouth Cup on Saturday. A six-year-old gelding by Smokey Hanover from Silvie Direct, Broderick Bay is owned by a West Coast publican, Mr H. R. Monk, and the Templeton trainer, C. R. Berkett. Broderick Bay beat Lightning Lil by half a head, with two and a half lengths to the third horse, Bob Hanover, which battled on after making most of the pace. Broderick Bay’s effort was

a good one, as he lost ground by beginning slowly from his wide barrier position. He was oack in the middle of the field early, but gradually made ground and was in the third line behind the leader at the half-mile. Coming to the straight he was still about fifth or sixth, but he improved rapidly and flashed alongside Lightning Lil when she looked to have the race won 30 or 40 yards from the post. . The win is certain to make him one of the favourites for the Greymouth Cup on Saturday. The weather for today’s meeting was overcast. Heavy showers fell from just before the sixth race, but had little effect on the track, which was hard and fast. The attendance for a week day was good. On-course the totalisator h. died £24,086 10s, including £2792 10s on the doubles, compared with £25,356 10s on the first day last year. First Leg Lightning Lil and Terako Queen broke at the start of the Victoria Park Handicap and Broderick Bay was slow from wide out. Going out of the straight after a furlong or so Bob Hanover was clear of Contribute and Sea Chase. Montaigne was next then Maud Noble, Lightning Lil and Broderick Bay. At the mile Bob Hanover was still clear of Contribute and Sea Chase. Next was Cbnitribute’s stablemate, Lightning Lil, and behind her were Montaigne, Broderick Bay and Charles Junior. There was no change in the leaders at the half-mile, but Stand In had raced up into fourth line inside Bhoderick Bay and Maud Noble was behind him. Bob Hanover still led round the turn, with Contribute hard behind him and Lightning Lil and Sea Chase making ground. Lightning Lil was clear at the furlong and looked to

have the race won when Broderick Bay came with a brilliant run down the outside. Over the last 50 yards the two had the finish to themselves, and Broderick Bay got his head in front right on the line. Bob Hanover battled on for third two and a half lengths away, a length and a half clear of Montaigne. Stand In was fifth, then came Contribute. Sea Chase. Maud Noble and Terako Queen. Toll Call was last. Gold Globe Leads Gold Globe was soon in front in the H. W. Kitchingham Handicap. Going out of the straight after a furlong she led Morsel, Young Betty, Commonwealth and Stand In. All Red rushed round the field into the lead after half a mile, and at the mile No Comment came alongside her. The two led, from Gold Globe and No Comment and Morsel and Young Betty into the back. At the half-mile AU Red had half a length on No Com. ment. Gold Globe was in behind them on the rails and Young Betty was handy. Morsel and Commonwealth were also on the rails and Stand In was alongside Commonwealth. No Comment went alongside All Red again at the two and a half furlongs, and they led into the straight. Gold Globe was tiring on the rails and Young Betty was improving fast. Half a furlong from the post Young Betty was in front and she went on to win by three-quarters of a length. In a close battle for second Stand In beat Young Betty’s stablemate. Heathmount, by half a head. Fourth, two and a half lengths awav. was Commonlowed bv Morsel, No Comwealth. Navua was fifth, folment All Red and Gold Globe, which tired quickly. Young Goughs broke at the start and trailed the field all the way.