Despite their High Court loss in the summer, Mildenhall continues to trade, albeit as the county’s only venue racing one meeting per week. In his monthly newsletter, outgoing chairman Mark Newberry writes:
‘The one meeting a week model at Mildenhall seems well established now. Unlike some of their regional neighbours Mildenhall have even declined the extra opportunities available at party time of year by stage extra meetings.
The commercial considerations of keeping the hare running albeit with an eight-race card of four-runner races is surely a subject for debate.
While the shortage of runners continues to be a challenge the racing manager is able to create a competitive 10 – 11 race card each week with most races six-dog affairs.
The exception to this being the top end of the card where the A4 dogs are capable of taking there chances in provisional opens Derek Brighton’s Wajas Scout and Robert Pendall’s Fairweather both particularly successful.
The BGRF Christmas bonus money for December is currently being paid with also ran money now £35 and a real welcome benefit to the sport and the owners and trainers.
At the Mildenhall Owners and Trainers Association AGM Jenny Hargreaves was appointed as the new chairperson. She plans to introduce new initiatives, while retaining the Dog & Bitch of the month awards as well as reinstating the trophy meeting for Boxing Day runners.
On the racing front there have been two excellent OBS £500 finals
Keith Munnings owned and trained veteran Minor Budget land the A4 final in 23.40s at a generous 7/1 and this daughter of Ballymac Ruso and Tynwald Minor always pays her way when drawn in red at this level
(She had the talented Wajas Scout and Faiweather Pal well behind her ! ).
The December A6 event was landed by veteran handler les Anderson with his progressive 19 month old puppy Amongst Women (Cabra Cool-Killcotton Kate) who was winning for the first time after 5 previous and unlucky attempts.
Making good use of his trap one draw the 36kg big striding sort led from the first to win going away in 23.54s and is definitely one to follow in recent weeks.
Another worthy of mention is the Keith Jonas trained Sika (Scolari Me Daddy x Bellmore Ruby) who recently made it three from four with a best of 23.34s.
The reduced running schedule always poses many challenges when sorting our the dog and bitch awards and December has resulted in multiple dead heats with no clear cut winners.
