June 24, 2008

HARNESS racing legend and multiple InterDominion winner Brian Hancock has declared the opening of Menangle Park the greatest thing to happen in his time in the sport.

"I have been involved for 40 years and it might sound like a big statement, but I really think it is the best thing that will happen to harness racing in my lifetime," Hancock said.

"I've been lucky to drive horses in all parts of the world, but I think this is the best track I have seen."

Hancock has been an integral part of the rebirth of Menangle Park, which rose from a humble meeting between himself, NSW Harness Racing Club CEO John Dumesny and Rex Horne, now NSWHRC chairman, three years ago.

"We sat down and had lunch and talked about where we're at and the need for something to bring the sport back to life," Hancock said.

"I feel really proud to have been a part of that initial meeting, and to think that we're about to see it happen in reality is just amazing."

The state-of-the-art 1400m Menangle Park Paceway will be opened with seven Group One races on Sunday, with a warm-up meeting at the south-west Sydney venue today.

Dumesny is confident the opening of Menangle Park is the start of a revolution in harness racing.

"This is a new beginning for our sport and the start of something very big," Dumesny said. "It's a revolution. Harness racing people can't stop talking about it and seem to be walking that little bit higher.

"It is the first time in a long time that there has been a feeling like this in the sport."

Never before has harness racing seen anything like the monster that is Menangle Park.

It's sheer size alone casts a shadow over Harold Park as the future home of the sport in NSW.

The 1400m track is faster, safer and should have fewer hard-luck stories than the ageing Glebe circuit.

There will be no second-line draws, with 10 horses competing off the front line of the mobile.

All hospitality packages are sold out for Sunday and Dumesny is hoping to attract a crowd of more than 15,000.

While pleased to see the opening of the track, leading trainer Paul Fitzpatrick is adamant Harold Park must be sold for the venture to be a success.

"The amenities at Menangle will do but they could do with expansion and prizemoney needs to be lifted to match the state of the track, and we can't do that unless we get the money from Harold Park," he said.

The boom around Menangle Park is certain to apply pressure for the sale of Harold Park, believed to be worth upward of $150 million.

Members will vote to sell Harold Park on the last weekend in August.

Race 1 TABCORP CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 11:20 AM
M0 To M1. which qualified in heats from 13/06/08 & 20-6-08 at Harold Park.PBD/M. Prizemoney: $25,000
2300 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4 MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 2s222 CANT BLUFF ME P T S N Lasnick James Ponsonby C6 M0 FR1
2 14241 REGAL SIGN B J Lonsdale Michael Formosa C8 M0 FR2
3 12322 THE MAELSTROM NZ I C Wilson Gavin Fitzpatrick C8 M0 FR3
4 44133 JULIUS APOLLO (Em 1) J R Ponsonby C6 M0 FR-
5 31211 TORPEDO BAY NZ J W Bennett Greg Bennett C8 M0 FR4
6 111s1 FRANCO NESTER NZ M A Herbert Joshua Willick C8 M0 FR5
7 42711 GEORGE SLOY S M Hunter Adam Ruggari C10 M0 FR6
8 26691 YUSHCHENKO LEIS D W Wilson Dennis Wilson C9 M0 FR7
9 31152 SAVED A CORKA L M Fitzpatrick Blake Fitzpatrick C11 M0 FR8
10 61293 LOUD N CLEAR NZ P H Rixon Peter Rixon C8 M1 FR9
11 21311 PANORAMA SWING P Sapio Ben Sarina C9 M1 FR10

Race 2 WANLESS WASTECORP NSW SIRES STAKES 2YO FILLIES FINAL (GROUP 1) 11:50 AM
2MA0 Or Better.2YO Fillies. Two year Old Fillies which Qualified for Final. Group 1 event.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
1609 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4 MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 33122 BEIJING NBEYOND P S Kahlefeldt William Trembath 2A2 2MA0 FR1
2 12421 LUCKY MERRYWOOD W P Dimech Wayne Innes 2A2 2MA0 FR2
3 15213 DAVROS DREAM D M Hewitt Michael Snr Day 2A1 2MA0 FR3
4 39323 JILLIBY KATE P G Manning Darren Hancock 2A2 2MA1 FR4
5 20165 JENNALEIGH P K Turner Philip Turner 2A2 2MA1 FR5
6 22216 PERFECT JENNA (Em 1) J F Tapp SCRATCHED 2A1 2MA0 SCR-
7 22474 LONGSHOREWOMAN J F Jeffcoate Glenn McElhinney 2A0 2MA0 FR6
8 11112 ANANZ P G Manning Kerryn Manning 2A11 2MA5 FR7
9 46444 DANCING JOROCO M J Hutchings Malcolm Hutchings 2A0 2MA0 FR8
10 46331 DUCHESS OF DUBAI J G Proctor Jason Proctor 2A0 2MA0 FR9
11 3s625 CHLOE SHANNON B J Hewitt Bernie Hewitt 2A0 2MA0 FR10

Race 3 GARRARD'S NSW SIRES STAKES 2YO C&G FINAL (GROUP 1) 12:20 PM
2MA0 Or Better.2YO Colts and Geldings. Two year Old Colts & Geldings which Qualified for Final. Group 1 event.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
1609 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4 MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 27769 NOSHUHARE (Em 1) F G O'Sullivan SCRATCHED 2A0 2MA0 SCR-
2 36313 ROYAL SURPRISE A S Turnbull Steve Turnbull 2A1 2MA0 FR1
3 26212 WATCH THE ACES N Brady Neil Brady 2A4 2MA0 FR2
4 11124 STORMY WARRIOR S M Maguire Stephen Maguire 2A3 2MA0 FR3
5 12 GOLDEN MARKET L M Fitzpatrick Blake Fitzpatrick 2A1 2MA0 FR4
6 12344 LOMBO BACCARAT D S Waite Glenn McElhinney 2A1 2MA0 FR5
7 34612 DAMAGE CONTROL H B Martin Harry Martin 2A1 2MA0 FR6
8 58352 VERNON P R J Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick 2A1 2MA0 FR7
9 41193 POLE POSITION H B Martin Darren Binskin 2A3 2MA0 FR8
10 65325 SEADRAGON P J Sykes Michael Jnr Day 2A0 2MA0 FR9
11 12411 HURRICANE JETT J E Davies Chris Alford 2A4 2MA0 FR10

Race 4 LEXUS AUSTRALIA NSW SIRES STAKES 3YO FILLIES FINAL (GROUP 1) 12:55 PM
3MA0 Or Better.3YO Fillies. Three year Old Fillies which Qualified for Final. Group 1 event.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
2300 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4 MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 13445 CHEER ME D A Kennedy David Kennedy 3A0 3MA0 FR1
2 23523 BARA INGRID F J Knapton Michael Towers 3A0 3MA0 FR2
3 21212 BURNING STATURE M T Hewitt Mark Hewitt 3A4 3MA0 FR3
4 78454 BEACH RENDEZVOUS P S Kahlefeldt William Trembath 3A3 3MA0 FR4
5 s1121 SHES MAKIN WAVES C P Rose Chris Rose 3A5 3MA2 FR5
6 11633 ESTHER JANE P R J Fitzpatrick Blake Fitzpatrick 3A2 3MA0 FR6
7 68495 SHEZ SERENE G F Sarina Ben Sarina 3A2 3MA0 FR7
8 15214 QUICKSILVER CANDY A R Ruggari Adam Ruggari 3A4 3MA0 FR8
9 81116 HEART OF AURORA (Em 1) A S Turnbull Amanda Turnbull (C) 3A4 3MA0 FR-
10 29s42 ALL IN BABY S M Hunter Robbie Byrnes 3A0 3MA0 FR9
11 01011 LADY LEXUS P R J Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick ODM 3A5 3MA0 FR10

Race 5 FORMULA 1 SELF DRIVING SCREENS NSW SIRES STAKES 3YO C&G FINAL (GROUP 1) 1:30 PM
3MA0 Or Better.3YO Colts and Geldings. Three year Old Colts & Geldings which Qualified for Final. Group 1 event.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
2300 METRES 1ST LEG DAILY DOUBLE, TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4, 1ST LEG QUADRELLA MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 14161 DECNDICE J W Bennett Greg Bennett 3A4 3MA0 FR1
2 02113 STANDELLE J C Brown Jimmy Brown 3A4 3MA0 FR2
3 29316 IRISH JACK (Em 1) M R Hardy Michael Jnr Day 3A2 3MA0 FR-
4 01212 ESPRIT DE KAYJAY P R J Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick 3A5 3MA0 FR3
5 46625 BEETEE BROMAC P T S N Lasnick Daryl Douglas 3A0 3MA0 FR4
6 34142 RIGATONI J F Tapp Gavin Lang 3A5 3MA0 FR5
7 34514 IRISH RIP D M Rowell Scott Osmond 3A0 3MA0 FR6
8 23121 BEACH FIGHTER P J Dewsbury Steve Turnbull 3A5 3MA2 FR7
9 14655 MARK JOSEPH A F Khouiss Joshua Willick 3A6 3MA2 FR8
10 4s014 JENNA RATE P R J Fitzpatrick Blake Fitzpatrick 3A2 3MA0 FR9
11 31223 SNAZZY SHANNON B J Hewitt Bernie Hewitt 3A1 3MA0 FR10

Race 6 CORDINA CHICKEN FARMS LADYSHIP MILE (GROUP 1) 2:40 PM
Mares. Open to all Mares, a Group 1 event. Field to be invited by the NSWHRC.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
1609 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4, 2ND LEG QUADRELLA MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 11s11 ALL PROMISES S M Price Lola Weidemann C11 M4 FR1
2 11132 FLEUR DE LIL L A McCarthy Luke McCarthy C16 M6 FR2
3 s1112 MISTY MILLER J F Tapp Greg Bennett C9 M3 FR3
4 s0301 MOLLY DARLING NZ D W Wilson Brent Mangos C15 M10 FR4
5 18122 MESMERIZING M A Caldow John Caldow C9 M3 FR5
6 11435 FLAMIN YOMAX I C Wilson Jim Douglass (C) C8 M2 FR6
7 22212 GOOD LOOKIN GIRL W F Dixon Natalie Rasmussen C18 M12 FR7
8 9s913 LUCKY ELSIE P T S N Lasnick David Wilkins C9 M3 FR8
9 41710 MISS HAZEL S M Hunter Gavin Lang C8 M2 FR9
10 47151 MATAI B B C NZ W T Graham Shane Graham C13 M7 FR10
11 25743 ALDEBARAN (Em 1) N A Day Neil Day C11 M1 FR-

Race 7 SPECIAL OLYMPICS TROTTERS MILE (GROUP 1) 3:15 PM
Open to all Trotters, a Group 1 event. Field to be selected by the NSWHRC and GHRRA Handicappers from nominations received.RBD. Prizemoney: $50,000
1609 METRES 2ND LEG DAILY DOUBLE, TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4, 3RD LEG QUADRELLA MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 70331 MONTROSE KID NZ L C Jurd Darren Hancock T7 TM1 FR1
2 44133 WHATSUNDERMYKILT NZ M J Williamson Daryl Douglas T18 TM13 FR2
3 212s2 WILL TRAPPER J F Noonan Todd Matthews T8 TM3 FR3
4 02361 PEPPERELL DANCER D J Woolcock Daryl Woolcock T11 TM2 FR4
5 37924 ONE OVER KENNY NZ R A Payne Tony Herlihy T16 TM11 FR5
6 49112 EARL OF MOT NZ L J Justice Lance Justice T8 TM1 FR6
7 72111 SUNNY ELEGANT NZ C W Lang Chris Lang T6 TM1 FR7
8 23241 VIVA LA FEVER R A Graham Chris Alford T14 TM9 FR8
9 21151 SAVE A SIXPENCE (Em 1) G A Lang SCRATCHED T6 TM1 SCR-
10 56014 COUNTESSA HEST NZ P R J Fitzpatrick Cameron Fitzpatrick (C) T12 TM4 FR9
11 31154 MAYBE HALL J P McCarthy Luke McCarthy ODM T14 TM7 FR10

Race 8 SEW EURODRIVE LEN SMITH MILE (GROUP 1) 3:50 PM
Open to all pacers, a Group 1 event. Field to be selected by the NSWHRC and GHRRA Handicappers from nominations received.RBD. Prizemoney: $100,000
1609 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4, 4TH LEG QUADRELLA MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 3s161 SMOKEN UP NZ L J Justice Lance Justice C13 M8 FR1
2 11242 LOMBO POCKET WATCH P R J Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick C24 M13 FR2
3 43315 ATOMIC ARK W F Dixon Grant Dixon C15 M10 FR3
4 03111 BE GOOD JOHNNY J P McCarthy SCRATCHED C23 M18 SCR
5 s2241 SPECIAL ALBERT W J Dawson Michael Dawson C15 M5 FR4
6 04s33 CINCINNATI KID NZ M Peace Mark Peace C13 M8 FR5
7 15363 BOLD CRUISER NZ G F Douglas Glenn Douglas C11 M6 FR6
8 14s52 SEQUOIAHS SPIRIT NZ G F Douglas Daryl Douglas C16 M5 FR7
9 s1471 SPIRIT OF A SHARK USA D W Graham Darrel Graham C20 M13 FR8
10 21921 REBEL TAJ (Em 1) J P McCarthy Luke McCarthy C11 M6 FR9-
11 21115 IRON HUDGE NZ M C Rolfe Mark Rolfe C6 M0 FR10

Race 9 SKY CHANNEL MENANGLE PARK CUP 4:25 PM
M2 To M4. Also eligible Horses that were nominated but balloted from the SEW Eurodrive Len Smith Mile.PBD/M. Prizemoney: $25,000
1609 METRES TRIFECTA, QUINELLA, EXACTA, FIRST4 MOBILE START
Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp
1 34811 HEZA HARD DRIVE NZ G F Douglas Daryl Douglas C11 M2 FR1
2 77s14 BOLD AND REGAL S J Treffiletti Glenn McElhinney C11 M2 FR2
3 15189 SCOLARI (Em 1) A S Turnbull Amanda Turnbull (C,cl) C13 M4 FR3-
4 43214 JILLIBY RIO P G Manning Kerryn Manning C9 M4 FR4
5 27532 DASH OF CLASS R J Hosking Peter Hedges C12 M4 FR5
6 22556 ENDEARED P R J Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick C9 M4 FR6
7 42533 CLINT WESTWOOD NZ P R J Fitzpatrick Cameron Fitzpatrick (C,cl) C10 M5 FR7
8 21921 REBEL TAJ J P McCarthy SCRATCHED C11 M6 SCR
9 28397 FOR LOVE OFTHEGAME A S Turnbull Steve Turnbull C23 M9 FR8
10 24626 BLUE GUM FOREST S P Conroy Emma Turnbull C16 M10 FR9
11 41048 AMORTS D R Hancock Darren Hancock C19 M14 FR10

Very Big Day for Harness Racing on Sunday at the new Menangle Complex making this the official opening.

29 June 2008
Smoken Up, Earl Of Mot and Good Lookin Girl all produced record-breaking runs at Menangle
Smoken Up is the new Australasian race record holder.
The suspicion that national records were going to tumble at Sunday’s bumper Menangle grand opening extravaganza proved to be correct with the day’s three open class Group 1 events all producing records of some description.
Smoken Up obliterated the Australasian record in winning the Len Smith Mile, Earl Of Mot set a new Australian trotters’ record with his win in the Trotters Mile, while Good Lookin Girl readjusted the Australian mares’ record with her win in the Ladyship Mile.
Smoken Up went 1:51.9 when leading all of the way in the Len Smith Mile. That sliced almost a full second of Pay Me Christian’s 1:52.8 record that was set at Newcastle in 2006.
On the line the $2.10 favourite had a head to spare over Lombo Pocket Watch, who looked the winner when he loomed ominously at the 100m mark, with Atomic Ark a metre and three quarters back in third spot.
Smoken Up’s win completed a dream day for Lance Justice, who just 35 minutes earlier won the $50,000 Special Olympics Trotters Mile with Earl Of Mot.
While unwanted by punters, the $20 chance clipped two-tenths of a second off Knight Pistol’s Australian record with his 1:56.2 win over Will Trapper ($3.50) and Countessa Hest ($88).
After a 28.5-second first section, the middle two quarters were covered in 29.8 and 29.1 before coming home the last 400m in 28.9 seconds.
Earl Of Mot’s win followed Good Lookin Girl’s 1:53.7 win in the $100,000 Ladyship Mile.
Despite doing most of the work outside fellow Queenslander Fleur De Lil, the Natalie Rasmussen-driven star was still able to get home in a 26.9-second final section to secure victory by more than two metres as a $3.40 chance.
That followed a 27.4 opening split and middle quarters of 28.9 and 30.4 seconds.
Fleur De Lil ($3.30 fav) held on claim second prize, a metre clear of Miss Hazel ($26).