RACING
Rylstone trainer Bob Howe had mixed emotions after his four-year-old gelding Ruby Hill took out the Bob Butler Memorial Class 3 Handicap at Mudgee yesterday.
Although he was happy to win the inaugural event in honour of the late Bob Butler, his focus was in Scone.
Howe's six-year-old mare We're Lucky was meant to line-up next to Ruby Hill in the 1200-metre event, but We're Lucky was scratched because she is fighting for her life.
We're Lucky was diagnosed with colic on Friday night.
"She'll probably won't come home," an emotional Howe said.
"I can't celebrate. She is still fighting. But when it is bad they don't come back."
We're Lucky is one of Howe's three horses he owns and trains.
"It's a pity because she [We're Lucky] has more wins in her."
Ruby Hill showed he could have more wins in him after he foiled a late charge from Reigns Above ($13, Adrian Robinson), Yorked ($13, Dean Greville) and Mudgee's Eureka Joh ($13, David Pisani).
The four-year-old won by a neck with apprentice jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes on board.
"He is a horse who has ability, he has paid for it with his weights and I think today he has gone into a better class race," Howe said.
"It was just a class race, I went with the kid [Pracey-Holmes] and we came back seven kilos. That was the factor.
"We have said it all along he has probably weighted above his best and today he proved it."
It was an emotional day for all involved with the Mudgee Race Club as they honoured two of their life members, the late Bob Butler and the late Maurice Beechey.
Both were integral members of the race club.
Mudgee Race Club chairman Max Walker said both men would have enjoyed yesterday's A Day to Re-Member races, which produced several tight finishes and a protest that was dismissed.
Not much separated three-year-olds Don't Move and Private Taber when they hit the finish line in the Maurice Beechey Memorial Country Plate - just as what Beechey would have wanted for his race.
In one of the tightest finishes yesterday, the Luke Griffith owned and trained Don't Move won the three-year-old plate by a short half head from Peter Nestor's gelding.
Griffith, who has always supported the races at Mudgee, held his breath when the two gallopers hit the line.
"I thought we might have held off but there was nothing in it, short half head," Griffith said.
With Dale Spriggs on board, Don't Move ($17) made its move on the long home straight at Mudgee.
Don't Move and Private Taber ($7, Kody Nestor) went head-to-head in the later stages of the 1200-metre country plate.
"He [Don't Move] is out of a good mare and took time to get his head right," Griffith said.
"He has done a few things wrong today but he keeps on improving. Hopefully he is like his mum; his mum won 14 races."
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