25
September, 2003
Harness Racing Victoria today presented the Essendon
Football Club with a cheque for $17,630.15 from the earnings of their pacing
duo Windyhillbomber and Spy Catcher.
The duo race under the auspices of a joint promotion
between HRV and EFC that sees the club?s two social venues ? the Essendon
Football & Community Sporting Club and the Melton Country Club ? lease and
race one pacer each, all in the name of charity.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy (pictured with Chris
Alford) was on hand at Windy Hill to accept the cheque from
Windyhillbomber, the Clyde-based pacer whose stable name is ?Sheedy?, and his
regular driver, six-time Australian premiership winner Chris Alford.
The figure represents the lessee?s percentage (66%)
of both pacers? earnings throughout the 2002-03 racing season which concluded
on 31 August.
In a season hampered by setbacks, the Jayne
Davies-trained and Essendon Football & Community Sporting Club-raced,
Windyhillbomber, started nine times for two wins and three placings, in the
process amassing $6,273.23 for charity.
Fellow three-year-old, Spy Catcher, was a new
addition for the Melton Country Club in March and after taking time to find her
feet for Bendigo trainer Bruce Morgan she finished with a wet sail posting five
wins and five placings from 18 starts to earn $11,356.92 for charity.
?The Bombers Harness Syndicate has proved to be an
excellent initiative for both ourselves and Harness Racing Victoria, providing
not only value added membership for Essendon supporters, but importantly
helping charities within the local community,? Essendon Football Club Chairman,
Graeme McMahon, said.
?We have been delighted with the efforts of
Windyhillbomber and more recently Spy Catcher, in particular the interest they
have generated amongst Essendon supporters and the funds they have amassed over
the past 18 months.
?Taking last season?s efforts into account, both the
Windy Hill and Melton social clubs will have donated in excess of $25,000 to
the local community within two years as a direct result of this initiative.
That?s a figure we are very proud of.
?We look forward to their continued success this
season, starting with Windyhillbomber who will give the members something to
cheer in race eight at Kilmore tomorrow afternoon.?
Harness Racing Victoria Chairman Neil Busse paid
credit to prominent Echuca breeders Alan Galloway of Alabar Bloodstock and
Geoff Waters who leased the duo to the Bombers Harness Syndicate.
?We can?t thank Alan and Geoff enough for their generosity
in leasing this duo to aid such a worthy cause. They have put the interests of
the industry before their own and for that we are extremely grateful,? Busse
said.
?Credit also to Jayne Davies and Bruce Morgan who
have guided their careers and ensured the duo maximise their earning potential
on the track.
?We have been delighted with the exposure and
promotional opportunities that this initiative has delivered and hope that
Essendon?s 30,000 members continue to sample the excitement of harness racing
whilst supporting Windyhillbomber and Spy Catcher.?
