For example, take this latest carnival, which opened on April 21. To provide a betting ring for the many visitors and locals that might make it noted for the competition and strength of its bookmakers, the club recruited leading bookmakers from thoroughbred and greyhound racing codes to compete for the betting dollar with the best of our operators. In the following pages you will learn why this mix for two weeks provided the strongest betting ring in modern day harness racing.

After years of there being no races for trotters in Queensland, the rather modest comeback of this handsome gait there did not prevent the APHRC from putting its hand up to conduct a Trotters Inter Dominion for the first time. For many in the Sunshine State, this would be their first real glimpse of top class trotters in action. The club took a punt, and backed a winner with the support of interstate and Kiwi owners and trainers.

When seeking a major sponsor for the Brisbane Inter Dominion, Raedler and his committee needed to look no further than to one of the State’s leading owners. Dean Shannon and his wife Kelly operate the company Toast.com. Operating a successful computer communications company is their bread and butter, but their passion is harness racing. At the time the opening heats of the carnival began, the Shannon’s owned 70 standardbreds, this included the smart three-year-old Scott McLeod NZ, and an Inter Dominion starter named Holm For Xmas NZ.

It was two months since the dust had settled on Melbourne’s Night Of Glory Carnival at Moonee Valley. Such a break to the Grand Circuit is most unusual at this time of the year. Most years the prestigious Inter carnival follows soon after the A.G. Hunter Cup. For many stables, such a break leading up to an Inter Dominion carnival was a welcome relief, allowing the opportunity of a freshen-up of their pacers for the gruelling two weeks of racing in Australasia’s biggest championship.

One notable absentee from the carnival was the highly promising Black Cam NZ. There had been a change of plan for the horse following its disappointing effort in the A.G. Hunter Cup. Instead of leaving the pacer in Australia with Mark Purdon to be prepared for the Brisbane Inter Dominion, veteran American owner Joe Muscara, following his horse finishing well back in the Hunter Cup, had a change of plan. He had requested the horse be sent across to the States on the first available plane.

The very week the Brisbane Carnival was to open, Black Cam NZ started a 4/5 favourite in Pennsylvania at The Meadows and beat a handy field in the quick time of 1:53.6. It was just its second start in the USA and followed a second on debut when having its first start in two months. After the win, its new trainer, Bob Corey, said he believed the horse had a great deal of improvement in him.

Queensland-owned Courage Under Fire NZ was ready and waiting to take on the southern horses and the Kiwi invaders. It had purposely missed the Hunter Cup for the five-year-old to be especially prepped by Brian Hancock to concentrate on this series. Hancock had become the most successful horseman in Inter Dominion history, so it was difficult for anyone to be critical of his planning to avoid the gruelling Melbourne two-miler with horses he trained.

The three rounds of heats would open with sprint racing over 1609m, with a random draw deciding barrier positions. The following six heats over two nights stepped up in distances. Tuesday’s second round was over 2138m, and the following Saturday night moved up to 2647m. This was hardly the staying test some New Zealand stables were accustomed with. Importantly, the draw for both these nights was on stakemoney won, automatically relegating the most successful pacers to the second row. After a week’s break, the top points scorers in the heats would face up to the starter in the Grand Final over 2647m.

Rod Osborne, the former Victorian and Queensland steward and now Queensland Director of Racing, announced the day prior to the carnival opening that all Inter Dominion starters would be drug-tested pre-race the following night, as would all placegetters after each race. "The Government’s Racing Science Centre is co-operating magnificently and staff will even work on Sunday to ensure results are known before the second round of heats next Tuesday," he said.

Osborne warned that hefty double penalties would be introduced for any swab offences. "Drivers will also be advised they can expect increased penalties for any interference in the Inter Dominion heats and Grand Final," he added. The tough stance being adopted by the Albion Park Harness Racing Club was warmly welcomed by most participants and racegoers.

In any racetrack discussion with leading drivers, Albion Park comes out a clear top pick as Australia’s premier track. Yet, some members of the national media seem to take great delight peddling the myth that it is strictly a front-runner’s circuit. The stark reality is that when good horses and good drivers come together, the best horses will win from just about any barrier. At this level, there is less chance of leaders being permitted to get away with slow tactics when their drivers attempt to turn events into a sprint to the winning post. Experienced drivers back in fields are always more likely to take up the challenge to do something about it.

The barrier draws for all heats were made public before the series began, a decision that had its share of critics in providing such information to participating stables. If there did exist any truth to the second line draw at Albion Park being a ‘horror’, how unlucky were Atitagain NZ, Shakamaker, Courage Under Fire NZ, Yulestar NZ and Safe And Sound? Each of these top class pacers in the random draw for the opening heat had come up with second line positions. On prizemoney won, each would also start off the second row in their remaining heats having (along with Holmes D G NZ) banked more earnings than their rivals, automatically earning to be in the draw for the back row and one horse on the outside of the front.

Brisbane’s Courier-Mail on the morning of the opening round of heats over 1609m, under a large headline proclaimed: "Early pace wins the race." It predicted that horses, which can hold a first-four position, would dominate that night’s heats. "At Inter Dominion level, those drawn the second row find it difficult to make ground in sprints against rivals of similar ability." The article went on to claim that the main fancies – Atitagain NZ, Courage Under Fire NZ, Yulestar NZ, Shakamaker, along with stablemate Safe And Sound, should be placed in the category of being a big risk over the sprint journey. In the random barrier draw, each of these five pacers would line up on the second line.

The article claimed that the well supported Holmes D G NZ would set the pattern leading throughout in the first of the heats from barrier two. "He rated 1:54.6 in an all-the-way 1760m Harold Park win (Miracle Mile) and is capable of going even faster on this much quicker Brisbane circuit."

Some bookmakers obviously agreed with this assessment. A week earlier Holmes D G NZ was quoted at 14/1 in early markets. After the barrier draws were made public, its price was slashed to 7/1 to win the Grand Final. It was made 4/5 favourite in the opening heat after drawing alley two, with Atitagain NZ on the inside of the second line in this heat. The Courier-Mail’s preview went on: "Ace Sydney driver Dennis Wilson will need all his skill to get Atitagain NZ into a place, with Wilson’s best chance tonight being stablemate Zyuganov Leis, drawn barrier one in the second heat."

There was a similar belief in Albion Park’s alleged reputation as a leader’s track down in Melbourne. Writing in Harness Racing Weekly, John Dunne’s preview of the first night began with: "Standout favourites – Atitagain NZ and Shakamaker – have both eased in betting for the Inter Dominion Grand Final after horror draws in the opening round of heats over the flying mile. With the pair having to contend with second row draws for all three rounds of heats, leading bookmaker Philip Nott reacted this week by easing the series’ favourite Atitagain NZ from 5/2 out to 11/4, and Shakamaker from 7/2 to 4/1."

One noted harness racing authority who strongly disagreed with any journalistic license that there existed a bias at Albion Park’s circuit was the man who designed and helped construct the track – Sydney civil engineer Bede Ireland F.I.E. (Aust.). Just prior to the club moving from 10 horses across the front row to the present eight, Ireland released statistics of the previous 700 races decided at Albion Park. The winners were so evenly spread amongst all barriers that the most successful winning alley had just 12 percent of the winning statistics, and the worst result was a respectful 8 percent winning average.

Speaking before the carnival opened, Ireland said it was a myth to believe the Brisbane track favoured front-runners any more than other major tracks in the country. "And a myth, or even a half-truth, can be likened to a half-brick. You can throw it a lot further. This misconception can be widely spread if not nipped in the bud." The track designer added: "I hope some of those gentlemen who write about horses being greatly disadvantaged on the second line at Albion Park, follow where the heat winners start from. With the best performed pacers having drawn the second line in the heats, I believe the majority of this series will see the winners come from the back row."

Pre-race betting on any Inter Dominion Championship is usually keen, with most stable supporters always on the look out to collect over-the-odds with their fancy. With the likes of Shakamaker, Atitagain NZ and Yulestar NZ being the main chances with most bookmakers, there were attractive odds to be had for horses further down in the betting. The first significant move had come for Canadian-bound Cee New York NZ, trained in Victoria by Michael Langdon. It was claimed on the eve of the carnival that a win by this horse in the Grand Final would collect as much as $500,000 in betting. It had been a spectacular move that had taken bookmakers by surprise, as its form this past year was that of a horse just a level below Grand Circuit racing.

There can be many twists and turns before and during an Inter Dominion series. Often a pre-race favourite will be displaced from that lofty position after only one or two heats. It may be a case of punters in pre-race moves backing the early favourite, only to find after a heat or two that bookmakers have extended their price to much longer odds than before the series opened. That’s what an Inter Dominion Championship is all about, when the best horses from both countries do battle over three nights of heats in the first week. Some hardy individuals will thrive on such a program, while others, highly fancied going into the series, will have their form taper off.

Defending Inter Dominion Champion Shakamaker had won 32 of his 45 starts, with 11 placings. His prizemoney now stood at $1,676,525, with a best mile rate of 1:55.0.

Holmes D G NZ had already banked $1,471,213 for winning 25 of its 52 starts, with 11 placings. Its back-to-back Miracle Miles was the highlight of its career to date. Earlier in this Grand Circuit season it took its race record to 1:54.6 with that second success in the premier sprint.

Courage Under Fire NZ had the most successful juvenile record yet seen in Australasia. Most of its $1,127,789 had come from remaining unbeaten at two and three. The horse had not been anywhere as dominant when racing against open class, its record now at 41 starts for 32 wins and two placings, with a fastest mile rate of 1:54.6.

Since moving to Australia as a three-year-old, Atitagain NZ had been a respected pacer. It had never raced better than this present season, confirming the horse had indeed stepped up to a higher level. It would go into the series with earnings of $502,829 for 22 wins from 63 starts, and a promise of more to come. It was also the only one of the top eight pacers to have chalked up more placings than victories. It also seemed likely that its fastest mile rate of 1:57.0 might also be lowered racing on the fast Albion Park track.

Yulestar NZ had come a long way in the past two years, now having won 18 of its 44 starts, with nine placings. Its prizemoney of $834,077 was also likely to be boosted in the near future. Rated a strong stayer, this gelding had showed its versatility with its best mile rate of 1:55.6.

Breenys Fella NZ had his recent problems. Still, the horse had established a record of 25 wins from 75 starts, with 19 placings. Its earnings stood at $658,979, with a fastest mile rate of 1:57.3. It had won the 2000 Victoria Cup, and had on several occasions been rather unlucky in major events.

Persistency was the only one of the eight still to win on the Grand Circuit. Serious injury had seen it sidelined for much of the past two years, thus robbing it of opportunities to compete on the Grand Circuit at a time when it might well have been at its peak. It had won 22 of 35 starts with seven placings, for stakes of $345,277. Its best mile rate to date was 1:56.1.

This would be the first time that Holmes D G NZ and Atitagain NZ had clashed in a sprint race since that incredible finish to the Miracle Mile almost six months earlier. Barry Purdon was of course delighted at drawing barrier two. "I could not be happier with the horse as it has trialled well and has settled in nicely. With the draw on my side, I am hoping for a repeat of the Miracle Mile finish," added the trainer-driver. Following its impressive win at Moonee Valley on February 17, Holmes D G NZ had finished sixth in the Hunter Cup after suffering a slight check at the start.

Dennis Wilson had planned for Atitagain NZ to peak during the championship. After several weeks off following the Treuer Memorial, it had won over 2540m at Bankstown on January 25 before its Victoria Cup third to Shakamaker, and its last-start fifth in the Hunter Cup to Another Party NZ.

In his preview of the heats, media personality Marshall Dobson selected Holmes D G NZ to lead all the way in the first heat. In placing it ahead of the Wilson representative, he said: "Atitagain NZ will need a touch of luck to get into the placings from inside the second line behind only a modest beginner in Back O Benachie NZ."

Dennis Wilson would later reveal how after hearing such comments from one with an in-depth knowledge of Brisbane racing, he had been pondering over his best course of action having drawn behind this slow beginner. In the 24 hours before the race, he crossed paths with a well known Victorian punter with a reputation for studying the lead times of every horse at a meeting he is involved with. The punter told Wilson that no matter what might have been written or said about the Victorian horse drawn the pole, Back O Benachie NZ would lead this field out and Wilson should simply follow it at the start.

"This was the reassurance I needed," Wilson later explained. "Later, I thought when lining up, that I might as well poke up there and see what happens. About this time I became further reassured to notice that Kerryn Gath (Back O Benachie NZ) had her whip up in the air. It was a sure sign she was about to make a determined effort to hold the lead, which she did easily over Holmes D G NZ. Then, just after the start, Craig Demmler (Breenys Fella NZ) did me the biggest favour of all when he tightened them all up on the first turn. It was very tight for a few moments with Holmes D G NZ putting me over the pegs. I just had to get out of there or go down."

Wilson got Atitagain NZ out of there as quickly as possible. At the first sign of space to pull out three wide, Atitagain NZ scooted away from its rivals to win the first heat comfortably from Lombo Rapida and Back O Benachie NZ. Then came Holmes D G NZ, Cigar NZ, Trois Frere, Breenys Fella NZ, Jaccka Smile NZ, Jonells Son, Hit The Spot, Holm For Xmas NZ and Ablazin Star. The winner’s time was 1:55.1. In claiming its fastest ever time, Atitagain NZ had started from barrier nine. Barry Purdon blamed himself for Holmes D G NZ not making the most of its barrier position. "I misjudged the computer mobile start."

Heat 2 brought together a field of considerable depth with the horse in barrier two again made favourite. The big names of Yulestar NZ, Safe And Sound, and Courage Under Fire NZ, would all line up on the second line. As a result of this, bookmakers quoted each at tempting odds.

The field and pre-race betting was: 7/1 Zyuganov Leis, 6/4 fav. Cee New York NZ, 200 Franco Lotsmore NZ, 100 Greek Gambit, 50 Drop Dead Gorgeous, 33 Flight South NZ, 16 The Major Bid NZ and 50 Friends For Life. Second line: 5 Safe And Sound, 4 Yulestar NZ, 25 Bancoora Next and 6 Courage Under Fire NZ.

The spectacular betting plunge earlier launched on Cee New York NZ surprised not only local bookmakers, but some enthusiasts back in Victoria. The six-year-old gelded son of New York Motoring had never really lived up to its early promise, though its latest form was encouraging. It had followed a Cranbourne third to Go Charles NZ, with a Moonee Valley win in March in the quick time of 1:56.3. At its only start since, the horse had beaten an ordinary field at Albion Park the previous month.

The pole marker, Zyuganov Leis, had a week or so before leaving for Brisbane given trainer Dennis Wilson a scare when it had gone very ordinarily in a trial. "He was a worry at the time, not so much if he was unwell, or not fit. He was simply a bit funny in his action. Whatever the chiropractor has done with his course of acupuncture has worked on what appears to have been a pinched muscle. Since then he has worked a treat, and will not be far off his absolute best going into the first heat," he said.

The first three placings would be filled by pacers starting from the second row. Trapped three wide for a time when trying to improve his position early, Brian Hancock was fortunate in dropping Courage Under Fire NZ into the one-out one-back position going down the back straight the last time when Cee New York NZ started to run up the white flag. The former champion youngster dashed away to win over Yulestar NZ and Safe And Sound. It was a significant win for Hancock personally, as he had established a new record with his 21^st victory in an Inter Dominion heat.

Fourth in was Zyuganov Leis, from The Major Bid NZ, Bancoora Next, Cee New York NZ, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Friends For Life, Franco Lotsmore NZ and Flight South NZ. The mighty midget in winning had clocked a time of 1:54.9. If this was a mighty fine time in the minds of punters and bookmakers, it was about to be lowered even further.

It had been a great night’s racing with an action-packed program. And Heat 3 promised much with the clash of Shakamaker and Persistency in what was far from a two-horse race. In the past, the million dollar mare Tailamade Lombo usually produced her best when racing at Albion Park, and her best was significantly better than what she had shown on trips across to Perth. Also in this heat were the improving Wally Walton, Pocket Me NZ (stablemate of the top trotter Lyell Creek NZ), and the Tony Herlihy-driven Pic Me Pockets NZ.

The barrier draw with pre-race betting was: 3/1 Wally Walton, 7 Pic Me Pockets NZ, 100 Warman, 8 Pocket Me NZ, 4 Persistency, 100 Camsplace Alec NZ, 33 Go Charles NZ, 200 Piccini. Second line: 12 Tailamade Lombo, 33 Show Of Hands, 25 Ouch NZ and 7/4 fav. Shakamaker.

Anthony Butt stoked up Pocket Me NZ, and the Kiwi came out flying from gate four, racing away to a clear early lead. Butt it seemed was prepared to reel off several sections in fast time in his surprising tactics of an opening night to run the opposition ragged. While the action was fast and furious up front, the favourite had found himself stuck in a traffic jam back near the rear, hindered by a 100/1 plugger blocking its way. When Justice finally did his Houdini trick and worked his horse out of the pocket, with great haste Shakamaker was forced wide to make up ground, so wide that some locals believed it was the widest they could remember a horse travelling in a major race on this track.

In a display of sustained speed, Pocket Me NZ reached the winning post ahead of Tailamade Lombo and Wally Walton, stopping the clock at 1:53.7. This had been made up of quarters in 27.3, 29.3, 28.6, and 28.4. Shakamaker lost no admirers, with the favourite having been clocked closing out its last quarter in 26.8 making up considerable ground to finish fourth. Then came: Persistency, Show Of Hands, Pic Me Pockets NZ, Ouch NZ, Camsplace Alec NZ, Piccini, Go Charles NZ and Warman.

It is customary in most Inter Dominion Championships for drivers to concentrate on earning points without challenging the clock. With so much racing ahead, points were more important than fast times. Anthony Butt had a reason when stepping this horse out on Australasia’s fastest track to grab a quick time. Several visiting Americans had shown an interest in purchasing this horse, and nothing it seems impresses Americans more than a horse capable of making time. Butt later admitted he was extremely surprised when he found the horse had paced its mile in 1:53.7. However, he and the stable were quick to talk up the effort with the Americans, as it was believed the asking price was in excess of $200,000.

Leading the progressive points were the three winners, each on 13 – Atitagain NZ, Courage Under Fire NZ and Pocket Me NZ. At the other end of the scale, the three to earn just one point each did include Auckland Cup winner Flight South NZ, who obviously was not noted as a sprinter. The other pair were Ablazin Star and Warman.

The clashing of four of the top eight performers in the sixth and final heat on the Tuesday night’s racing did suggest that the first two heats of the second night did not have the depth and the evenness of the heats of opening night. For this reason, Tailamade Lombo was installed favourite, just ahead of Holmes D G NZ in the first of the night’s heats.

The barrier draw and early betting on Heat 4: 33/1 Camsplace Alec NZ, 12 Back O Benachie NZ, 10 Ablazin Star, 9/2 Ouch NZ, 33 Show Of Hands, 14 Wally Walton, 50 Drop Dead Gorgeous, 4 Safe And Sound. Second row: 16 Bancoora Next, 7/2 fav. Tailamade Lombo, 4/1 Holmes D G NZ, 25 Zyuganov Leis. With Barry and brother Mark Purdon both having drives in this heat, Brian Hancock was asked to drive Camsplace Alec NZ from the pole. The local horse Drop Dead Gorgeous was a scratching from this heat.

Cut-throat tactics by early tearaways Back O Benachie NZ and Ablazin Star ensured this heat was run at break-neck speed. John Justice usually prefers to have Safe And Sound doing things tough, but his decision to work away and go up three wide outside the two leaders was suicide tactics. Such tactics were playing into the hands of Tailamade Lombo and Holmes D G NZ. Barry Purdon knew the three up front could not be expected to sustain such speed, and bided his time with ‘Holmes’, like a hungry tiger ready to pounce.

Chris Alford had good reason to be feeling satisfied as he worked the millionaire mare into the race between horses. This would change in the blink of an eye. Approaching the final bend, just when Purdon was winding his horse up for a big sprint home, Tailamade Lombo was slightly tightened when Alford was trying to get clear. It was later reported there had been a minor gear problem. For whatever reason, the mare broke, galloping her way out the back.

Holmes D G NZ sprinted home hard, with almost half the field having been softened up early. The twice Miracle Mile winner reeled off a last quarter 28.5 to win comfortably over his brother Mark’s Ouch NZ, with Wally Walton a nose away third. The mile rate for the 2138m was a fast 1:55.2 Because of the unusual tactics employed by several drivers, it was no surprise this was another winner from the second row, having started from barrier 11.

Others: Zyuganov Leis, Camsplace Alec NZ, Bancoora Next, Show Of Hands, Back O Benachie NZ, Ablazin Star, Safe And Sound, and Tailamade Lombo. The mile rate was 1:55.2. Because of their rearward finishes, both Tailamade Lombo and Safe And Sound after two nights were in danger of not reaching the Grand Final. Both would need to capture big points in Saturday night’s final round of heats.

Progressive points: 26 Atitagain NZ. 22 Holmes D G NZ, Shakamaker & Yulestar NZ. 21 Courage Under Fire NZ, Lombo Rapida. 20 Wally Walton. 19 Pocket Me NZ, Persistency. 18 Zyuganov Leis.17 Cigar NZ. 16.5 Ouch NZ. 16 Cee New York NZ. 15 Back O Benachie NZ. 14 Bancoora Next, Show Of Hands. 13 Breenys Fella NZ, Safe And Sound, Tailamade Lombo & Jaccka Smile NZ. 12 Camsplace Alec NZ. 11 The Major Bid NZ, Holm For Xmas, Trois Frere & Jonells Son. 8.5 Pic Me Pockets NZ.