Almost under the radar, racing has gained a significant new event in one of the best ‘feel good’ stories of the year.
Last December Romford renamed the Essex Vase in memory of hugely popular former owner Mitch Millward who had died a few months earlier following a lengthy battle with illness.
But Mitch’s many friends decided that he deserved a special race of his own and they teamed together to create the Mitch Millward Memorial Marathon which got underway for 18 runners on Wednesday night.
The competition was sponsored by Mitch’s old friends, who knew his love of long distance events, then given a significant prize money boost by Romford Stadium and finally, as is the nature of the event, a hugely impressive perpetual trophy was donated by Mark Burridge who put the whole thing into perspective with the line “Mitch represented everything that was good in the sport”.
Romford boss David McDonald has confirmed that the track are keen to make the competition and annual event and the prize money – £250 to heat winners and £5,000 to the winner looks guaranteed to ensure its longevity.
Wednesday’s three qualifers lived up to full billing with five of the six qualifiers running within two lengths of each other.
The opening heat went to Spa Road Piper (T1 5-2) who held off Romany Rouge (T5 6-4f) by half a length in 47.64 with Sosaidhs Blue (T2 7-1) failing by a neck to qualify.
The second qualifier went to Phil Simmonds’ new intake Fizzypop Buddy (T6 4-7f) who powered away on the second circuit after a very tight first lap led by eventual runner-up Stallas Veekayee (T3 5-1). The winning distance was eight lengths and the winning time was 47.56.
The final heat was the night’s quickest and went to Slick Sebastian (T4 7-4) in 47.55 but runner-up Billys Bullet lost nothing in a length and three quarter defeat.
Next Wednesday’s final, supporting the Coral Essex Vase, will be an absolute spell-binder, and worthy of the man in whose name it is being staged.
