The Cowra Harness Racing Club will be celebrating 100 Years of Racing at the Cowra Showground, Racecourse and Paceway, with a race meeting on Sunday, September 8.
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Over the next few weeks the Cowra Guardian will be running a series of articles that arranges archival newspaper clippings and the club's historical records into stories looking at the faces and sponsors behind the club, the big events and any other curious moments that have occurred during the club's centenary.
It seems almost obvious, but one of the side benefits of being a racing organisation that has reach 100 years since its first hosted event, means that a lot of great harness racers have done their dash on the pacing tracks of Cowra.
But who is the greatest horse to have come from Cowra? What era did they come from? Who drove them?
It's an exacting question with a multitude of answers. Here are some possible candidates we've found from this week's records.
Lawn Derby mows down its opposition
Lawn Derby, who we made mention of last week, is obviously worth a mention, with 31 race wins from seven years of racing (He started as a three-year-old).
The horse smashed numerous records, and became the first horse to get below the two minute mile mark, marking the milestone at Christchurch's Addington Racecourse.
The horse also won the Hobart, Launceston, Victoria and Ascot Cups, with regular driver Jack O'Shea describing the win of the latter in March, 1937, as its best individual race.
The records described the situation as follows:
"Handicapped off 120 yards, he conceded long starts to some of the best horses in Australia at the time. Bookmakers offered as much as 20-1 against him.
"Then, when he was still a long last at the bell lap, odds of up to 1000 to one were offered. His position looked hopeless. But when O'Shea put the pressure on, the great champion exploded into full flight.
"One Furlong out, he still appeared to have no chance, but flashed home to win in the last stride."
The horse would go on to win another Ascot race, and as mentioned in last week's article, it is pictured with its son, Avian Derby, in a photo held at the the New York-based Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Ribands runs its own show
Ribands, who was based out at Frank Smith's Billimari property, Kiallan, also had its own outstanding run of success, after being prepared by local driver Jim Ryan.
Frank Kelloway purchased the horse after a trial showcased its ability to produce a two minute mile, and the horse went on to win 42 races and $84,000 worth of prize money during its racing career.
Plenty of other names to recognise
Those names are just two of the key racers that delivered dominant results for their trainers, owners and drivers, but there are several others that deserve recognition.
Historical descriptions of Cocky Raider, owned by Gooloogong's Jack and Gordon McWilliam, prove this point:
"Driven by Gordon, Cocky Raider became an idol with local punters, winning 16 races at Harold Park, including the 1969 Spring Cup, the 1969 and 1970 Australia Day Cups, and an Inter-Dominion Consolation at Melbourne in 1970."
Lindsay Berry, an owner and breeder who was based in the vicinity of Graham, also had a tremendous amount of success not only with Lawnrock, but with Lawn Wood, who according to the records, had 27 starts and 17 wins, and pulled off the difficult feat on winning races from 132 yard handicaps.
The mention of Berry brings us to another key racing name: His son, Jack, whose mare Louise Lynette gave him five winners, all of whom won races at Harold Park during their time trotting.
Lachamfer was the most prominent, with six wins and $104,000 worth of prize money from its time in America, but Lachalier (Six wins), Lachlander (Two) as well as Lacharect and Lachaglen (one apiece) also delivered plenty of success at Harold Park.
That there are countless other names that could be discussed and pop up repetitively in the records -- Treasure, Baxter, O'Connor, Lynch, Beer, Nelson, Jukes, McFarlane - is testament to the deep lineage of pacing in the local area.
Take Your Pick
It is difficult to choose a singular horse as the greatest that has trotted along the Cowra Showgrounds' pacing track.
While there are plenty of contenders, and an endless parade of trainers, owners, breeders and drivers who have been associated with some fantastic achievements over the past 100 years, perhaps it is easier and more optimistic to consider the greatest as one yet written, as the pacing industry continues to evolve and change in line with the times.
Turning out the lights
When considering that, it is perhaps fitting, that it was Gordon Baxter who was one of the key people who helped to de-install lights when night racing came to an end in Cowra in 1994, ushering in a new era of day time racing for the club.
Baxter was also one of the people on hand to help initially install the lights in 1954 for use at the first night meeting, and his family, based in Wattamondara, has enjoyed a long association with pacing.
Connecting the Past to the Present
The club is also still searching for any memorabilia, regardless of whether it's from the early days or the present: Race books, photos, racing colours, write-ups that people may have tucked away somewhere, that could be used to set up a display to celebrate the occasion.
If you have such materials, don't hesitate to email the club at cowraharnessracing@outlook.com
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