This Week In Greyhound History: October 8th – October 14th

8th October

West Australian sprinter Freemantle Echo stormed home to win the 1987 , held in Hobart, defeating local star True Vintage by three-quarters of a length. The third placegetter, Are You Married, from Queensland, was a massive 11 lengths further adrift. True Vintage had been attempting to win her 13th successive race.

9th October

The Jim Coleman-trained NSW sprinter General Jeff won the 1980 by six lengths over 558 metres at the Gabba, coming from seventh at the first turn.

10th October

Local star Mister Oollee won the 1974 Gabba Sprint Championship (later the Coca Cola Cup and Brisbane Cup) over 558 metres at the Gabba, downing NSW speedster Miss and South Australian star Bristol Sue.

Power Zone broke the track record in winning the 1997 by three lengths from Macorna Lad and Lansley Bale, scoring in 25.37 and earning $20,000 first prize.

11th October

The Melbourne greyhound track opened its doors for racing in 1957. Superdog Rookie Rebel was among the winners, scoring by five lengths over 675 yards (617 metres).

smashed her own track record over 790 yards (722 metres) at Wentworth Park when winning her heat of the 1969 Sydney Cup by 12 lengths, running 42.9 to clip 3/10ths off the mark she had set the previous year.

won the 1979 Brisbane Cup (first known as the Gabba Sprint Championship and later the Coca Cola Cup) at the Gabba for NSW and trainer Bill Fletcher. He went on to be named NSW .

Spud Regis won the 2012 Adelaide Cup for trainer Andrea Dailly just a week after Big Black Mac, his litter brother and fellow qualifier, had been killed in a car accident. Heston Bale, also trained by the Dailly's, finished fourth.

12th October

Sky Chimes set a track record of 27.8 for 480 yards (438 metres) at the Epping course in 1927, defeating the classy Happy Bachelor by two lengths.

Totara scored what was described as a ‘lucky' win in the third heat of the 1940 Victorian Futurity Stakes up the straight at Napier Park. Starting a 1/4 ($1.25) favourite, Totara was well behind Dandy Jenny just a short distance from the line when ‘the pacemaker stopped [and] Dandy Jenny eased up with him, allowing [Totara] to slip up on the inside and score a fortunate win.' (from a report in The Argus newspaper)

Victorian champion Tara Princess won the 1964 Interstate Challenge over 800 yards (732 metres) at Olympic Park by six lengths. The field of five saw NSW representative Goldent (a winner of 17 of her 43 career starts) and a noted fast finisher, run only third at what was her first run on sand.

13th October

Glyn Occa equalled the Dapto 500 yards (457 metres) track record in defeating the up-and-coming sprinter and future pre-potent sire Dream's Image by half a length in 27.8 in 1949.

Mepunga Nicky won the 2011 Adelaide Cup for trainer , the first time the race had been held in October.

14th October

Queensland sprinter Pied Rebel was beaten half a length over 500 yards (457 metres) at in 1969 to register his seventh successive win or placing since coming from the northern state to contest the National Sprint Championship series on behalf of his home state. He had run third in the final. Pied Rebel became one of the most consistent gallopers to make the transition from Queensland to NSW and gave trainer Paul Cauchi his big break.

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