50 years ago the Maryborough Gift was run on Monday 2nd January 1961. Following a storm on the Saturday, the track was flooded and the Maryborough organisers brought in a bulldozer to drain the track.
Footballers May Fight Out Maryborough Final
By Ron Carter
The Age
Monday 2nd January 1961
Maryborough, Sunday: Two footballers, Hawthorn’s Ray Yeoman and former Geelong full back Bob Gazzard, appear likley to fight out the final of the £300 Maryborough Gift tomorrow.
The race could develop into a repetition of last season’s Bendigo Thousand final, in which Yeoman defeated Gazzard by one yard.
However the Maryborough final could be much closer than the Bendigo race.
Gazzard had a 2½ yards advantage in handicaps at Bendigo, but in tomorrow’s race he meets Yeoman with a 3¾ yards advantage. He will run from 6 yards and Yeoman from 2¼.
Yeoman, second in the Ararat Gift on Boxing Day, has little opposition in the 13th heat, but is likley to strike a tough fourth semi-final.
In his semi, he is likley to meet Frank Penlerick, winner of the Ararat Gift and Alan Goodlett who was second in the Echuca Gift last weekend.
Penlerick has been handicapped on 8¾ yards but he faces a penalty for his win at Ararat.
Although the Princes Park track was flooded by up to three feet of water following yesterday’s sudden storm, the ground was being repaired today and should be in fair condition for tomorrow’s Gift.
A bulldozer was used to make canal for the water to be drained from the oval.
Gazzard should have little trouble qualifying for the third semi-final, but in the semi he may meet highly rated John O’Donnell whose recent form marks him as a big danger.
The other three finalists should be Ron Sandilands from 8¾ yards and outmarkers Cyril Ogier and John Hope both from 11½ yards.
Scratchman Terry Clarke, Australian professional sprint champion, who has not yet raced in Victoria this season is a doubtful starter in the ninth heat of the Gift.
Clarke has not been running well at training and will not decide until tomorrow morning whether he will start at Maryborough.
“I would like to run, nut I will not start unles I feel I can put up a worthwhile performances, Clarke said today.
The backmarker’s mile handicap carries a first prize of £50, may develop into a battle between John Chisholm off 90 yards and John Pryor off 45 yards.
Although both are in top form they can expect serious opposition from other low markers in Peter Sheales, John Toleman and Alan Ferguson.
Footballers May Fight Out Maryborough Final
By Ron Carter
The Age
Monday 2nd January 1961
Maryborough, Sunday: Two footballers, Hawthorn’s Ray Yeoman and former Geelong full back Bob Gazzard, appear likley to fight out the final of the £300 Maryborough Gift tomorrow.
The race could develop into a repetition of last season’s Bendigo Thousand final, in which Yeoman defeated Gazzard by one yard.
However the Maryborough final could be much closer than the Bendigo race.
Gazzard had a 2½ yards advantage in handicaps at Bendigo, but in tomorrow’s race he meets Yeoman with a 3¾ yards advantage. He will run from 6 yards and Yeoman from 2¼.
Yeoman, second in the Ararat Gift on Boxing Day, has little opposition in the 13th heat, but is likley to strike a tough fourth semi-final.
In his semi, he is likley to meet Frank Penlerick, winner of the Ararat Gift and Alan Goodlett who was second in the Echuca Gift last weekend.
Penlerick has been handicapped on 8¾ yards but he faces a penalty for his win at Ararat.
Although the Princes Park track was flooded by up to three feet of water following yesterday’s sudden storm, the ground was being repaired today and should be in fair condition for tomorrow’s Gift.
A bulldozer was used to make canal for the water to be drained from the oval.
Gazzard should have little trouble qualifying for the third semi-final, but in the semi he may meet highly rated John O’Donnell whose recent form marks him as a big danger.
The other three finalists should be Ron Sandilands from 8¾ yards and outmarkers Cyril Ogier and John Hope both from 11½ yards.
Scratchman Terry Clarke, Australian professional sprint champion, who has not yet raced in Victoria this season is a doubtful starter in the ninth heat of the Gift.
Clarke has not been running well at training and will not decide until tomorrow morning whether he will start at Maryborough.
“I would like to run, nut I will not start unles I feel I can put up a worthwhile performances, Clarke said today.
The backmarker’s mile handicap carries a first prize of £50, may develop into a battle between John Chisholm off 90 yards and John Pryor off 45 yards.
Although both are in top form they can expect serious opposition from other low markers in Peter Sheales, John Toleman and Alan Ferguson.