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Over 40,000 at the trots back in 1985
#1
Posted 11 November 2011 - 03:34 PM
http://www.heraldsun...6-1225826549662
THE "FROG'S"
INTER DOMINION
Date: March 9, 1985
Race: Inter Dominion Pacing Final
Still the biggest modern-day crowd Moonee Valley has seen - all the great Cox Plates included. "The official crowd was about 38,000, but they closed the gates and then another 3000 cars arrived and parked on the steeple grass and they weren't counted. The true crowd would have been at least 43,000," Donnelley said. They were treated to a night of champions and high-drama. WA star Preux Chevalier was hot favourite for the pacing final, but had a pre-race health scare with colic. He was cleared to run minutes before the race and still won it, beating subsequent Inter Dominion winner Village Kid. Mighty trotting mare Scotch Notch thrilled the locals when she turned the tables on arch rival Sir Castleton in the trotting final. "They were the days when harness racing had real clout," Habel recalled.
Back then to physically go to the trots was the only way avenue where you could put a bet on for them outside of the phone account at home.
The TAB's closed early, there was no casino in Melbourne (well no legal ones!) poker machines were only north of the Murray River or the Wrest Point casino in Hobart. It was a night out and blokes like Vin Knight, Teddy Demmler and Brian Gath were considered sporting legends.
#2
Posted 14 November 2011 - 01:43 PM
A mate and I were talking about how the 1985 Interdominion crowd at Moonee Valley was so huge- here is a cut and paste from-
http://www.heraldsun...6-1225826549662
THE "FROG'S"
INTER DOMINION
Date: March 9, 1985
Race: Inter Dominion Pacing Final
Still the biggest modern-day crowd Moonee Valley has seen - all the great Cox Plates included. "The official crowd was about 38,000, but they closed the gates and then another 3000 cars arrived and parked on the steeple grass and they weren't counted. The true crowd would have been at least 43,000," Donnelley said. They were treated to a night of champions and high-drama. WA star Preux Chevalier was hot favourite for the pacing final, but had a pre-race health scare with colic. He was cleared to run minutes before the race and still won it, beating subsequent Inter Dominion winner Village Kid. Mighty trotting mare Scotch Notch thrilled the locals when she turned the tables on arch rival Sir Castleton in the trotting final. "They were the days when harness racing had real clout," Habel recalled.
Back then to physically go to the trots was the only way avenue where you could put a bet on for them outside of the phone account at home.
The TAB's closed early, there was no casino in Melbourne (well no legal ones!) poker machines were only north of the Murray River or the Wrest Point casino in Hobart. It was a night out and blokes like Vin Knight, Teddy Demmler and Brian Gath were considered sporting legends.
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