Friday, 20th January 2017
The Friday night race meeting at Greenwald Paceway saw six pony and driver combinations harness up for two scheduled pony races, one of which being the Glencoe Cup, sponsored by Jayson Finnis.
Race one, started with Buddy Boom Boom (Evie Sealey) holding the lead until the top turn when the rest of the ponies caught them. Slim Dusty (Amity Formosa) made steady ground, taking lead. Midfielder, Jerry (Nicola Bowditch) and backmarker Blaze (Amber Formosa) could not gain advantage on the smaller ponies. However, Marmalade, driven with excellence by interstate and smallest driver, Mikayla Bygate managed to take out her first win in this race. They were followed closely by Buddy Boom Boom (Evie Sealey), Super Mario (Keeley Formosa) and Slim Dusty (Amity Formosa). Jerry (Nicola Bowditch) and Blaze (Amber Formosa) were unfortunately out of the placings.
Race 2, was the prestigious Glencoe Cup, of which was sponsored by Jayson Finnis, who started his successful racing career in pony trots. After the starter blew the whistle, Jerry (Nicola Bowditch) and Slim Dusty (Amity Formosa) struggled for the lead only to be overcome by the quicker ponies in the straight. Keeley Formosa steered Super Mario to the outside of the track creeping up on the rest of the ponies. Mikayla Bygate used winning tactics as she drove Marmalade superbly over the line, winning double for the night. The pair hit the line ahead of Jerry (Nicola Bowditch), Blaze (Amber Formosa), Buddy Boom Boom (Evie Sealey), Super Mario (Keeley Formosa) and last over the line was Slim Dusty driven by Amity Formosa.
Youngest driver, Mikayla Bygate had a smile from ear to ear as she was presented with a trophy by Glencoe Football club representative, Chris Jones and local standardbred trainer Alyce Finnis on behalf of Jayson and Kathy Finnis and the Glencoe Community.