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It is always an emotional time when the Parkes Harness Racing Club conducts the Keith Thomson Memorial (2040m) but when local pacer Max Is Back crossed the line first in Monday night’s feature there were a mountain of tears flowing from not only Keith’s family but also from the winning connections, the Harris family whose patriarch, David Harris senior was able to make it back to the track after battling life threatening cancer for the past 12 months.
Keith Thomson was involved in a trackwork fall and sustained injuries that eventually ended his life and the Harris boys were with him on that fateful day.
But a determined David Harris junior stepped out on the track on Monday night with Max Is Back ($4.40) which is raced by his sister Belinda and he drove a heady race in front, rating the gelding to perfection as he staved off a belated challenge to score by a metre.
Runner-up Blissfully Fake ($6.40, Murray Sullivan) loomed as a major threat on the home turn but she mixed her gate all the way down the straight when under pressure.
Imposing Molly ($7.40, John O’Shea) sat back off the pace and battled on well for third, 11.5 metres in arrears.
Although confined to a wheelchair, Harris senior was able to make it down onto the track with the help of his family and they accepted the winning trophy from Keith Thomson’s daughters Megan Heraghty and Sue Dean in a moment that had many swallowing a lump in their throats.
Monday night’s Australia Day celebrations were bolstered by the attendance of a very delightful Ambassador, Annabelle Williams, who was very well received by the healthy crowd that attended the meeting.
The traditional Yabby races were a real hit with patrons both young and old.
For the first time in a long time, Parkes horsemen had a very successful night with Max Is Back taking out one feature and underrated reinsman Mitch Hutchings scoring a last stride win in the Western Districts Junior Drivers Invitation (2040m).
Hutchings moved to Leeton last year to work for the strong Shaun Snudden stable but ended that association recently to take up employment outside the industry.
So his new freelance situation could not have started on a better note when he partnered the Nathan Hurst trained The Matrix ($4.00) to a half-neck win.
After sitting on the leader’s back, Hutchings sat patiently like a sniper ready to strike and when Kapow Shannon rolled away from the pegs in the straight, Mitch got busy on The Matrix which sprinted fast to claim the prize.
Kapow Shannon ($3.10) was given every chance by Yanco’s Todd Prest who set a very moderate pace and really there were no excuses for him.
Ebdon ($3.00, Blair Hurst) raced without cover and stuck on well for third.
On any other night the headline would have belonged to Parkes reinsman Andrew Cassell who took the driving honours with a winning double.
Poppy Cee ($2.70) looked well and truly beaten in the Safe Guy Competitive Stakes (1660m) after leading and being headed off with 400 metres to run.
Forbes mare Home In Indiana ($3.40) was set alight from near last by Murray Sullivan and she dashed away with what looked to be a winning break.
But just when the judges were preparing to post the numbers, the mare shortened stride and Poppy Cee raised another effort to come back and take the prize in a three-way go.
Coola Bar Boy ($4.00, Rodney Lemon) who had also loomed as a winning chance on the home turn, but was appearing to have to settle for third, made it interesting on the line and only failed by a neck while Home In Indiana ended up running third.
Cassell came out in the following race, the Langlands Hanlon Ambassador Pace (2040m), and combined with Parkes trainer Terry Powter to get Scots Legacy ($6.60) home first.
After a short tussle for the lead, Cassell was able to boot through from barrier one and he then rated the gelding nicely in front and pulled out plenty in the straight to sneak in for a half-head victory.
Runner-up, Holy Camp Clive ($2.10, Michael Day junior) was heavily supported to take out the race and may have been a shade unlucky as when he attempted to make a mid-race move, he struck trouble and had to go back to the tail of the field.
He then had to go very wide in the final lap and made up a ton of ground to just miss out.
Jay Peez Knight ($53.70, Wade Judd) sat in behind the pace and sprinted very quickly when he saw daylight, almost causing a boilover.
Bathurst trainer-driver Peter Bullock had one of his rare drives and it was a 10 out of 10 aboard Signory Shannon ($6.00) in the Parkes Leagues Club Pace (2040m).
Bullock leaves most of the driving to stable reinsmen Mick Munro and Max Hughes and when he does get on one, you can nearly bet they will go close.
He set a perfect pace out in front with Signory Shannon holding too many guns to score a comfortable two metre win.
Precious M ($2.90, Mitch Turnbull) raced without cover and stuck on well for second with the winner’s stablemate, Smack Dab Shannon ($2.60, Michael Munro) coming from back on the pegs to run third.
Bathurst trained horses cleaned up the balance of the program with Jason Turnbull scoring a convincing win aboard Medowie Miss ($3.20) in the D & N Produce 3yo Pace (1660m).
Turnbull was able to overcome an awkward draw and worked his way into the clear with the filly storming down the extreme outside of the track to race away for a clear win.
Dot Ayou ($4.20, Darryl Davis) and Heads Up ($5.00, John O’Shea) both had tough runs and should be put down as youngsters to watch in the coming weeks.
Quambys Ideal ($3.20) was given an easy time out in front by Mitch Turnbull and proved far too strong for his rivals in the Dwyers Fresh Pace (2040m).
He strolled to a two length win over Natural Art ($35.30, Monique Parsons) and What I Mean To Say ($16.50, Steve Dowton) who both raced back off the pace.
Tim McGee ($3.90) finally broke through for a long overdue win for Tony and Ben Hagney in the Parkes Furniture One Competitive Stakes (1660m) after leading throughout.
Miners Lane ($16.40, Tony Beath) loomed as a threat on the turn but could not peg back the margin and had to settle for second with Macs On Show ($15.60, Jane Morris) getting to the line well for third.
Racing returns to Parkes on Wednesday night, February 11.
Yabby races a hit at Australia Day meeting
The Parkes Harness Club's annual Australia Day meeting Yabby races proved a popular attraction with a large number of entrants again this year. Winner of the races was Mikee Birmingham who received an $20 prize and a flash trophy for her troubles.
Runner-up was Cooper Lynch followed by Rodney Pritchard.