Over 3,000 people turned out for Wimbledon’s final meeting with many hundreds left outside due to health and safety restrictions writes Floyd Amphlett.
There were many highlights, the fifth win in seven races for Fweshfromthesesh, trained by young handler, Alfie Herbert, a superb 28.58 run from another pup, Shaneboy Russell and the shock of the night was the defeat of 1-3f and track record holder Razldazl Raidio by Kakantu in the £2,000 hurdle decider.
Wimbledon is packed to the rafters to watch the action on the track’s farewell metting. Photo: Steve Nash
It was perhaps appropriate that the final race was won by Glitzy King. The 10-1 chance was trained by Brian Nicholls, without whose loyalty in providing around a third of the graded strength, the track may not have made it into 2017.
Racing manager Gary Matthews, off on holiday today to clear his head said: “By the end there was a very sobre mood about the place. There was a bunch of flowers tied to a post, like a memorial. There was an enormous cheer, like a Derby Final for the last race. Overall, it was just very sad.”
Nicholls said: “The crowd was incredible, there must have been thousands left outside. We were being offered £100 per person to let them through the kennel gate at the back. The only one I let through was a bloke who was virtually in tears. It turned out he was Sidney Orton’s grandson. I think Clare was his uncle.
The Mick The Miller grandstand packs them in for one final time. Photo: Steve Nash
“I am so proud to have trained the last winner at Wimbledon. I used to live locally and first went to the place when I was eight years old. I don’t know what I will do now. I have 30 dogs with the space for another ten and I don’t want to give up. I spoke to Crayford and they came and saw my kennels and have promised to let me know by the end of the month.
“I wouldn’t approach anyone else until I know how things stand there. If that doesn’t work out, I would have to consider other options, possibly Harlow. I would even consider Poole, but I would need enough runners to make it worthwhile and I can understand if the trainers already there said, ‘why should he get 15 runners, and we can’t get runs for our dogs?’. I’ll know about Crayford shortly and will then decide.”
We leave the story of Wimbledon with possibly the most famous race ever staged there. You know the one. . .
