31ST AUGUST 2011 AN HISTORIC NIGHTS RACING

Last night, 31st August, was another nights memorable racing. The weather was kind with a warm still night becoming cooler by the time the last races started.

The night was memorable for so many reasons. Les Fell and family decided to retire Scoot Around last night, the horse was paraded to the crowd and received plaudits and trophies for its marvellous contribution to harness racing. This 12 year old has held British and Tir Prince records on numerous occassions and in its 35 wins and £60,000 of prize money it won two memorable Crock of Gold finals at Tir Prince, a very hard act to follow.

In the Crock of Gold final we witnessed as good a race as you will ever see and at the final bend only a few lenghts separated all 7 horses, the pace was set by the under rated Bon Jasper and a 57.3 seconds half mile took the sting out of the field but two myths were broken in this race, first you cant win a top race drawn 7 and that fillies can beat the colts because the marvellous Laneside Lexus from position 7 just pipped Matador Hall, Forafewdollarsmore and Crown Manhattan on the line with only a head and a neck separating them and a British record for a fillie, 1.573 what a race and what a horse.

Rocker Laidlaw had an historic hat-trick of wins winning all three live races giving Sheila B Devotion a masterful drive beating a field of 11 in the Trot Britain one mile free for all trot and driving Stoneriggs Mystery to a wonderful win in the Billy Williams free for all pace in the second fastest time ever recorded at Tir Prince, 1.566. In fact he started the meeting off in fine style driving Duggans Pride to victoryin the maiden race.

The Young Welsh Dragon colts final was won by Vicky Gill on Camden Daniel and Mick Lord gave Lyons Pendyffryn a good drive in the grade 1 pace.

Race 4 saw a fabulous race with Ian Pimlott on Southlands Dillinger just caught on the line by the fast finishing Colonel Mustard driven by Richard Haythornthwaite and Chris Nicol came second on Penguins Can Dance. The last race before the live tv races was won comfortably by the hugely impressive Change the Locks in 1.589 from Ayr Mission. This horse has the potential to win a future Crock of Gold.

Full results are shown below