ALBION PARK TROTTING OPENING NIGHT RESULTS FROM 7 SEPTEMBER 1968

21/01/16

In yesterday’s Justracing website story on the sad passing of harness racing author Raymond Lowndes – whose funeral is on at 2pm today – he’d advised that opening night at the Albion Park trots on 7 September 1968 attracted “14,000” patrons and “60” bookmakers.

In his usual professional style of leaving no stone unturned, Raymond Lowndes even put the full results from the opening night meeting in his book, so today would seem to me to be a fitting day to repeat them in his honour.

When looking at these results below don’t forget the TAB dividends quoted were from the Queensland TAB – which has now morphed into Ubet – and in that era the dividends were declared for a 50-cent unit, as 50 cents was the lowest minimum bet back then. Nowadays as we know, the minimum bet is $1. Additionally Treble, First 4, Trifecta, Exacta and Any 2 betting types didn’t exist at the time, so the only available bet types were win, place, Quinella, race-to-race doubles and a Daily Double.

Back in 1968 the margins were also recorded in yards – as metric was not in back then either. Metrics only came to Australia in June 1970.

Here are the results of the opening night at Albion Park from one of Raymond Lowndes books:

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

(1st Div – 10.5 furlongs – which is 2100 metres)

1

1

CURLY ADIOS Mr. N. Simpson’s chestnut gelding 5YO (Golden Adios-Gladmarie) Driver S. Zammit 7/2

 

2

HARLERAY   R.J. Smith 33/1

 

3

VICTORY COMMAND    C. McInnes 5/1

 

4

LUCKY DECISION B.R. Pelling 50/1

 

5

ELMO DAWN   W. McGowan 9/2

 

6

KILLARNEY’S ACE   M. Wanless 9/2

 

7

COMMON REX   H.W. Lucas 25/1

 

8

ENCUMPASS   L. Kingston 20/1

 

9

JANINA   C. Mewes 15/1

 

 

Winner trained by S. Zammit. Tote win $2.15 place 85c, $6.20, $1.15. Quinella $54.10. Time 2.49.5. Rate 2.9.1. Margins 8 yards x 1 yard.

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

(2ndDiv – 10.5 furlongs)

2

1

PRINCESS THORMrs. M.H. Bryant’s brown mare 8YO (Thunder On – Florinda) Driver P. Mawby 5/1

 

2

DEWALIN   F.J. Willis 6/1

 

3

AMOCON   A.R. Belford5/4

 

4

TRICKY SCOTT   W.D. Weeks25/1

 

5

BROTHER JACK   K. Hill10/1

 

6

NU ICON   W. Neville10/1

 

7

SCOTCH COURIER   C. Field25/1

 

8

PRINCE GEORGE   P. Wombwell5/1

 

9

HOME RAIDERE. Baumann10/1

 

10

SUGAR CANEJ. McMullen14/1

 

 

Winner trained by Mrs. .H. Bryant. Tote win $2.60 place $1.10, $1.50, 60 cents. Quinella $18.45. Double $33.10. Time 2.50.0. Rate 2.9.5. Margins half head x 2 yards.

 

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

(3rd  Div – 10.5 furlongs)

3

1

STORMY WATERMr. C.V. Boyd’s bay horse 5YO (Stormyway-Scotteen) Driver D. Coy 1/6

 

2

STAR GAMBLE    P. Frost 7/1

 

3

AMEN BRUCE   L. Forest16/1

 

4

LEADONS. Joseph16/1

 

5

LORD WINSTONR.A. Reid66/1

 

6

CRESCENT HALLR. Atkinson50/1

 

7

RED SENTINELK. Munro50/1

 

8

FREE DAWN   L.W. Dillon50/1

 

 

Winner trained by D. Coy.  Tote win 65 cents, place 55 cents, 60 cents, $1.20. Quinella $1.10. Double $4.45. Time 2.52.0. Rate 2.11.1. Margins 20 yards x 4 yards.

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

INVITATION STAKES – 12 furlongs 132 yards – Standing start

4

1

HAMILCAR CHIEFMrs. L. Schoenauer’s bay gelding 11YO (U-Scott – Trout Stream) 12 yardsDriver A.H. Coleman 7/2

 

2

MONGOLIEYS. Joseph20/1

 

3

MOONLIGHT PEAK M. Karas20/1

 

4

DEVOLVEA.R.  Belford20/1

 

5

STANTON GEMJ. O’Sullivan50/1

 

6

KING MARUK.Addison7/1

 

7

NEATP. Wombwell14/1

 

8

ALLEGIANCE SONN. Croghan1/2

 

 

Winner trained by Mrs. L. Schoenauer. Tote win $2.20 place 70 cents, $1.65, $2. Quinella $50.60. Double $6.20. Time 3.30.5. Rate 2.13.1. Margins 2 yards x 4 yards.

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

(4th Div – 10.5 furlongs)

5

1

FROGGIE’S CHOICEMr. F.C. Coy’s bay gelding 9YO (Baadin-Merrigal Lass) Driver A. Merson 5/2

 

2

KILKENNY’S RETURNL. Walker7/2

 

3

PETITE LAWNL. Edwards4/1

 

4

SUDDEN SWITCHA.R. Belford5/1

 

5

KRACKER BOYL. Kingston10/1

 

6

HUSHED UPP. Mawby20/1

 

7

FLORENCE IVY    C.R. Sweeney

 

8

RICHARD TRAVISR. Atkinson25/1

 

 

Winner trained by L. Huddleston.  Tote win $1.80, place 70 cents, 70 cents, 70 cents. Quinella $2.85. Double $7.20. Time 2.57.5. Rate 2.15.2. Margins 1 yard x 1 yard.

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

2.21 CLASS – 12 furlongs 132 yards – Standing start

6

1

MORRIS POWERMessrs. G. McWhirter and P. Wombwell’s bay gelding 7YO (Morris Eden – Bonny Power)  Driver P. Wombwell 3/1

 

2

EVEN JOE   J. McMullen20/1

 

3

APEX BOY   K. Munro6/4

 

4

WEXFORD SCOTTA.R. Belford6/1

 

5

PICADILLY PRIDE   N. Price20/1

 

6

COWRA GUYR.P. Collyer40/1

 

7

VOLO LAWNR. Taylor33/1

 

8

SCOTTY NELSONK. Belford8/1

 

9

BOBBY STANTONK. Addison8/1

 

10

NATIONAL LAWN   A.H. Coleman50/1

 

 

Winner trained by P. Wombwell.  Tote win $2, place 85 cents, $1.75, 80 cents.  Quinella $21.75. Double $5.60. Time 3.31.8. Rate 2.14.5. Margins 2 yards x half neck.

 

 

 

RACE

PLACINGS

MOBILE QUALIFYING STAKES

(5th Div) 10.5 furlongs

7

1

CHEV VONNE A.A. Henry’s brown mare 7YO (Sparkling Red – Expressdale)  Driver A. Phillis1/1.

 

2

ADIOS AMIGO J. Johnstone4/1

 

3

RADIANT DEEDK. Thomas4/1

 

4

SMOKELANDSC. Field25/1

 

5

DELL CORDETTEN. Price20/1

 

6

BONGONGOP. Frost8/1

 

7

VICTOR LUDORUMA.H. Coleman33/1

 

8

DOT’S LADP. Mawby10/1

 

9

MAUNGATAUTARIP. Wombwell14/1

 

 

Winner trained by A. Phillis.  Tote win $1.10 place 80 cents, 60 cents, 95 cents. Quinella $2.80. Double $3.50. Time 2.50.0. Rate 2.9.5. Margins 1 yard x 15 yards.

 

On the night six of the seven races were worth $775 in total prizemoney with the winner getting $525, second $150, third $75 and fourth $25. Race 4, the standing start “Invitation” which was won by Hamilcar Chief was worth $2000 in total prizemoney with the winner getting $1375, second received $400, third $200 and fourth $25.

 

And today as usual in the “Aim To Please Readers Stakes” I took the time to go back over some Justracing file photos of trainers and drivers from that opening night of harness racing at Albion Park on 7 September 1968 so on www.brisbaneracing.com.au today there’s a montage to remember some of those participants.

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