This week in racing history
February
26
Swanston Lass overcame box six to win the 1968 Australian Cup from NSW contenders Rokoko and Miami Moss.
In a major upset, Lee Lana won the Western Australian National Distance Championship Title eliminator from Large Score and the heavy favourite Afro Freeway. Lee Lana went on to run fourth behind Ten Guitars in the National Distance Championship final, run at Launceston.
Top Shiraz took out the 2001 Launceston Cup, run over 522 metres, by six and a half lengths from Shanlea Title, earning $15,000 for connections.
27
Tasmanian stayer Oak Queen won the 1960 NCA Championship, run over 790 yards at Wentworth Park, defeating Boodler by eight lengths in a solid 44.1.
The Sid Swain-trained Cool Flight downed Snozz by half a length to win the 2009 Richmond Derby and pick up $25,000 first prize money.
28
Victorian invader Fine Devil took out the 1998 National Futurity at Wentworth Park from Miss Winsome and November Miss, winning by five and a half lengths in a race record 30.27 for the 520 metres trip.
March
1
The 1976 Maturity Classic, run over 511 metres at Olympic Park, was taken out by Aaron King from Leeander Mist. The winner picked up $3,500 for connections.
Poetic Reward ran a track record time of 34.32 for the 600 metres trip at The Meadows in 1999, just a month after the official opening of the course. This time would remain the benchmark until the end of the year.
On the same night, the final of the Australian Cup was taken out by Mandatario, who defeated Brookside Red and Mono Railer over the-then 518 metres distance.
2
El Grand Senor ran a new track record time of 22.80 for 410 metres at Horsham in 2010.
The 2013 edition of the Group 1 Super Stayers, run over 725 metres at the Meadows, was annexed by Destini Fireball, who defeated Irma Bale by just half a head. The final was robbed of interest when West Australian champion Miata was scratched.
3
Champion local sprinter True Vintage scored a brilliant victory in the 1988 Hobart Thousand, defeating Bookie's Regret by just over four lengths with NSW contender November Bale third. The Margaret Crosswell-trained greyhound ran a race record 26.34 for the 457 metres trip, picking up $8,000 for the win.
Traction Control won the 2005 DDC Launching Pad over 515 metres at Sandown, picking up $25,000 for defeating Magic Trance and Chad Waters.
4
South Australian star Miss Spicy won the 2006 Australian Cup, run over 525 metres at The Meadows, by just over a length from Go Forever and Trew Touch. The winner collected $125,000, a new record prize money level for the Australian Cup. Miss Spicy became only the second South Australian to win the prestigious event, emulating the feat of Ginger, who scored in 1989.