Towcester ..The Opening Night (By Mark Wallis )
How could winning both semi finals of the ECC Timber Oaks on Friday possibly be topped. Well it really was on Saturday as Imperial Kennels created yet another piece of history as Fairest Royal trapped superbly and led all the way to land the opening race at Towcester, the first new Greyhound track to be built for over 20 years.
Starting with Towcester all I can say is wow! If anyone had been there earlier in the week when the place still resembled a building site and the Tuesday night trials didn't finish until after midnight you had to fear the worst and say how could they possibly be ready for Saturday's opening night launch, but ready they were, and what a night!
As I approached the Stadium down the A5 the moment I set eyes on the amazingly illuminated racecourse I knew then we have something special here..the car parking was a dream, the hospitality marquees looked busy an hour before racing and the magnificent Empress stand was buzzing with activity. For four years since I was first involved in the initial talks about this possible venture I dreamed of what the first night would be like and I wasn't disappointed.
The track looked glorious with the HD lighting and the 100k + super screen and the Grandstand was a sight to behold. I made my way up to the top of the stand where my Racing Club had hired one of the superb spacious Hospitality Suites (holds 40 comfortably) and the view from the balcony over to the track was spectacular.
Fairest RoyalAs the greyhounds came out for the first race my attention quickly focussed not just on what a momentous occasion this was for our sport but could we win this race. We created history in a sad way when we sent out the last ever winner at the much missed Walthamstow and I've always stated I wanted to have the first winner at the new Towcester.
We had two chances in the shape of the well fancied Benkaat Boomer and the unfancied but consistent Fairest Royal. Matt Chapman was on hand in the commentary hot seat and was whipping up the now huge crowd. As the hare was set on its way a tremendous roar went up that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, the traps opened on the beautiful track and the runners came out in good fashion.
Fairest Royal trapped in great style while Benkaat Boomer was only moderately away and as the runners all glided around the galloping and welfare friendly bends it was Fairest Royal who had the lead.
From this moment I knew she wouldn't get caught and she crossed the line a couple of lengths clear to a famous victory. The presentation area just in front of the stands was buzzing and we were greeted with many well wishers and our victory was warmly applauded and received and Dick and Ann Barfoot were deserving owners who have seen the many ups and downs of our sport in the last couple of weeks.
I could write a book on the whole night but I won't bore everybody. The open races all went well and it was great to have a 1-2 in the 655m stayers heats and Vanrooney looked a shade unlucky in the feature 5k one off race. The races went off virtually on time and really the night went far too quickly, the atmosphere was electric on a chilly but bearable December night.
Even I still had doubts about the two eight dog races having never been involved in them before. I need not have worried as both races were a delight with hardly any trouble, both our runners ran well and I can't wait to be involved in them again.
It was so good to see so many friends old and new and of course the initial opening was always going to attract a decent crowd. As Kevin Ackerman, the instigator of the whole project along with Lord Hesketh later told me, they haven't even begun to promote the track properly so this crowd exceeded even their wildest dreams.
Praise has to go to them especially, also it was fitting that Martin White's Kilglen Chief took the £5,000 race in great style, only a handful of people know how much work Martin has done to help them get this brilliant new concept underway, why he gets some unjust public criticism is beyond me. Chris Page also had put some tireless work into making this the first new track for over 20 years come to fruition and he must have been a proud man at the end of the night.
Chris is without doubt the best Racing Manager that has graced our sport in its entire history and Towcester and Greyhound racing are lucky to have him at the helm. His team of Andy Lisemore and Steve Cale in the racing office are more than helpful and a credit to the track. Praise must go to the much maligned SSS (Sports Stadium Specialists) who built the magnificent track and Jason Begg was on hand to make sure it went smoothly - on the whole a brilliant, brilliant night.
