This Week In Racing History
APRIL
9th
The photo finish camera was used for the first time at the White City, Launceston track in 1949. Only two races required the judges to use the photo finish print for that first official meeting.
The automatic totalisator operated for the first time at Wentworth Park in 1955. A manual totalisator had previously been in operation since November 1948.
10th
Victorian champion Bold Trease broke the 722-metre track record at Launceston in 1988 when he stormed home to defeat local star Eskimo Chaveaux by two lengths in 43.67.
11th
Sentinel won his ninth successive race when he won over 600 yards (548 metres) at Harold Park in 1936, scoring by eight lengths and running 32.9 to equal All Coin's track record.
In a match race run over 785 yards (718 metres) at Launceston in 1959, champion all-distance bitch Oak Queen downed Supreme Ace by two lengths.
12th
The Reg Kay-trained Queensland sprinter Size Can Matter annexed the 2008 Perth Cup at Cannington. Size Can Matter scored by just over a length from Back Tonight with NSW representative Mandagery Man third. The winner ran a fast 5.69 first section before finishing off the race in 30.22 to claim the $125,000 winner's cheque.
On the same night, Victorian stayer Elektra defeated Gunnadoo Magic by half a length with Chinatown Lad a half length away third in the 715-metre West Australian Galaxy final. Elektra set a new race record of 41.48.
13th
Keen Linen defeated his litter brother Black Top by a neck in the 1963 Bi-Annual Classic (now the Peter Mosman Memorial) over 500 yards (457 metres) at Harold Park, running a race record 26.8.
Bomber's Gal, a former NSW greyhound, won the first 770 yards (704 metres) race held on the new Gabba track, in 1972, scoring by nine lengths in 41.84.
Osti's Joker took out the 2000 Sandown Cup by four lengths from Frosty Friday and Many Tricks, picking up $50,000 for his 42.26 effort.
14th
All-distance star Farrago smashed the 790 yards (722 metres) track record at Wentworth Park in 1951 when he scored by 15 lengths in 43.6, clipping 5/10ths from the old mark set by Ada Yin. This was Farrago's first distance start for 18 months.
Plunkett's Pride defeated Macareena by three-quarters of a length in a thrilling match race run over 500 yards (457 metres) at Harold Park in 1954. Plunkett's Pride had box one and Macareena box three and the pair raced stride for stride to the home bend. Macareena bumped Plunkett's Pride in attempting to reach the fence and the latter kicked just over a length clear before Macareena came again near the line.
15th
Buka Sunset won the inaugural Chef Galaxy Cup in 1987, run over 511 metres at Olympic Park. The Alec Reid-trained sprinter scored by half a length from Chariot's Darlin'.
Victorian sprinter Malawi Law defeated Railway Rocket and Rocking Romero in the 1995 Golden Easter Egg final at Wentworth Park. Malawi Law scored by three lengths, using box one to perfection to give Graeme Bate his first win in the event.
Surf Lorian equalled the 520-metre Albion Park track record of 29.73 in 2004, at his first start on the Queensland city track. Four days later he equalled it again.
Best Quoted won the 720-metre Easter Chase at Wentworth Park by six and a half lengths in 2006, running a race record 42.27 for trainer John Mooney.