Victorian Race Record Equalled

24 April 2007
Logo
They call it the home of high speed harness racing and Geelong's Beckley Park is just that.
Officials were sent clambering for the record books after Penny Veejay scorched around the Geelong circuit in a blistering 1:54.3 mile rate to claim the $20,000 SEW-Eurodrive Rocket last Saturday night.
The time equalled the Victorian race record set at Cranbourne way back on February 7, 1997 by former American speedster and now successful sire Island Glow.
Only five other horses have broken the magical 1:55 mark under race conditions in Victoria - three of those at Moonee Valley, one at Maryborough and one at Ballarat.
Allwoods Chief paced a track record 1:54.4 in winning the Legends Mile at Moonee Valley on November 8, 1997, whilst Troublesome Fella (29/3/99) has won in 1:54.5 and Young Mister Charles (4/11/96) in 1:54.8 at the same venue.
Blatant Lie posted a slick 1:54.6 mile rate when victorious at Maryborough on May 19 last year, whilst Johnny Wizzard rated 1:54.9 to score at Ballarat on January 19, 2002.
Penny Veejay's record-equalling mile took 0.8 of a second off the Geelong track record held by dual Australian Horse of the Year Sokyola.
"It was an amazing performance and one which highlights just how good the track is here at Beckley Park," Geelong Harness Racing Club manager Lisa Downey said.
"Not only is the track fast, but it's one of the fairest in the state because horses can win from any barrier draw and as a result we have so many exciting finishes here.
"We were delighted to host such a great race on Saturday night and I wish to thank Rob Merola and SEW-Eurodrive for their sponsorship of the Geelong Rocket."
The Jayne Davies-trained and Chris Alford-driven Penny Veejay picked up a $2000 bonus for lowering the Geelong track record, but unfortunately for connections a further bonus for bettering the Victorian race record went begging as he only equalled Island Glow's mark.

 

Related News

29 March 2024
Gibson family honoured in more ways than one at Bathurst Carnival
SINCE the inception of the Bathurst Gold Crown in 1987, the Gibson family and their Success Stud have positively contributed to shaping the hugely-successful juvenile carnival. Originally based in Queensland before relocating to the idyllic Young region, the late John Gibson initially operated Success...
29 March 2024
Group 1 mares add star power to Riverina Championships
Four Group 1 winning mares - including two currently considered to be among the nation’s best - will clash in an intriguing battle at the Riverina Championships finals program at Wagga on Sunday. The meeting features two $100,000 finals for four and five year-old pacers - one each for the boys...
29 March 2024
Ford looking for Gold on Good Friday
The combined harness and greyhound meeting on Good Friday night in Hobart is fast becoming a Tassie racing tradition, and it’s back again with eight greyhound races and six harness events making up this year’s 14-race program. Driver Dylan Ford will be out to continue his excellent start...
28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
Click for more