Tuesday, May 21, 2019

While passing pretty well unnoticed, Tara Raceway track manager Tim Manterfield did remind us that it was 21 years ago last weekend that the South East Greyhound Racing Club (as it was then known) was officially opened at Lake Terrace East by Allan Scott.

The official opening on Monday, May 18, 1998 came close to 18 months after the first race meeting had been conducted at the new venue in January 1997 and took place on the Adelaide Cup public holiday.

The opening coincided with the running of the Smokefree Mount Gambier Cup final (512 m). And in what was always a terrific weekend, seven heats (winners received $150 each) were run on the Saturday with the draw for the Monday meeting conducted at a dinner that night.

This was the second Mount Gambier Cup to be run at Lake Terrace East, Warrnambool trainer John Drennan ultimately running the quinella with Manawartoo (top seller at the Calcutta with a bid of $212) and Stilson.

And on hand for the official opening was the committee of the day, led by president Craig Collins, vice-president Dean Fennell and secretary/treasurer Connie Miller who were assisted by Steve Bartholomew, Gwen Burdon, Des and Phil Dowdell, Stuart Gardiner, Allen and David Peckham, Terry Smith, Bob Thomson and Allan Virgo.

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