Bendigold one of our first local stars at Lord's Raceway
Bendigold wins the Epsom Handicap at Lord's Raceway in March 1956
BENDIGOLD, a
bay horse, by Gold Bar NZ from Eileen Rose was owned by Bendigo dentist,
Lieut.-Col. T.W.Williams.
He was trained and driven by Andy Ryan at Pyramid Hill, where he was worked on his own on Ryan’s 2 furlong track. At his first Start in December 1955, Bendigold was placed third at Bendigo to outstanding pacer Watchman
At his second start, he won at 6/4 on. Then at his third start, he was distanced and the subject of a steward’s inquiry when unable to handle a wet track. The stallion then won three on end at Lord’s Raceway, including the Christmas Handicap at 7/4 on. He then went on to win another two at the Junortoun track, to be unbeaten in five starts.
The Bendigo Advertiser of the time proclaimed that “Bendigo has another “gold” discovery – five-year-old pacer Bendigold, unbeaten at his past five starts at Lord’s Raceway”. He had only raced once away from Lord’s Raceway, when he failed dismally at Wedderburn.
Owner T.W.Williams had been besieged with tempting financial offers for Bendigold but was reportedly reluctant to sell.
On October 11, 1957, the Local Champion Bendigold was advertised as the chief attraction when attempting to win his seventh win at Bendigo. His record stood at six wins and a placing from eight appearances at the races, all at Lord’s Raceway. He won on this night, with his record of seven wins and a third, all at Lord’s Raceway, leading to a £7,000 offer to the owner.
Then calamity…Bendigold crashed to the track after competing only one circuit of the track in the 11-furlong Strathfieldsaye Free-For-All, leaving trainer-driver Andy Ryan with a bad shaking and a skinned knee.
J.P.( Jack) Moore from Maryborough took over the reins for Bendigold’s next start (again at Lord’s Raceway) when he drove it to win the Raywood Free-for-all, beating Ken Will’s pacer Star Hill by a head with a mile rate of 2.12.
A youthful John Dewhirst of Maryborough took over the drive on Bendigold for the Easter Handicap, resulting in the star’s tenth win in 14 starts at Lord’s Raceway. At his next start, in the Kennington Free-For-All, Bendigold galloped and finished second last in a field of 14 when driven by Eric Rothacker. The first two placegetters were driven by John Dewhirst and Jack Moore who had each won with Bendigold at his previous two starts.
Bendigold was then sold to big spending Melbourne owner, H.E. (Skipper) Taylor, and headed for Sydney to be trained by G.D. (Dave) Wilson, and his foreman, Cedrick (Syd) McLean. The sale price was reported as “not far short of the ten-figure sum that was refused last season”.
However, Bendigold was scratched from his Sydney engagements as he commenced to make mistakes when training on the short track at Bankstown. On resuming at Harold Park, he broke at the start when an easing 5/4 on favourite and finished 20 lengths behind the second-last horse. The horse was then swabbed and later barred from racing in Sydney. He was also gelded. When Bendigold won his first race outside of Bendigo he settled a lot of arguments. Driven by G.D. Wilson, he returned to the winning list by setting a track record when winning the 12 furlong Qualifying Handicap at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds in Melbourne in 2.10. having to be hard driven to beat the second horse.
He was then returned to his original trainer Andy Ryan at Pyramid Hill, where he was scheduled to race at a Saturday meeting at Boort. On December 11th 1959, he reappeared in the main race at Bendigo, the Bridgewater Handicap, but ran last.
Information for this article gathered from a Ryan Family scrapbook donated to the BHRC Memorabilia Collection, along with Bendigold’s rug, and race finish photo, by Monica McKay (formerly Ryan) daughter of the late Andy Ryan of Pyramid Hill
He was trained and driven by Andy Ryan at Pyramid Hill, where he was worked on his own on Ryan’s 2 furlong track. At his first Start in December 1955, Bendigold was placed third at Bendigo to outstanding pacer Watchman
At his second start, he won at 6/4 on. Then at his third start, he was distanced and the subject of a steward’s inquiry when unable to handle a wet track. The stallion then won three on end at Lord’s Raceway, including the Christmas Handicap at 7/4 on. He then went on to win another two at the Junortoun track, to be unbeaten in five starts.
The Bendigo Advertiser of the time proclaimed that “Bendigo has another “gold” discovery – five-year-old pacer Bendigold, unbeaten at his past five starts at Lord’s Raceway”. He had only raced once away from Lord’s Raceway, when he failed dismally at Wedderburn.
Owner T.W.Williams had been besieged with tempting financial offers for Bendigold but was reportedly reluctant to sell.
On October 11, 1957, the Local Champion Bendigold was advertised as the chief attraction when attempting to win his seventh win at Bendigo. His record stood at six wins and a placing from eight appearances at the races, all at Lord’s Raceway. He won on this night, with his record of seven wins and a third, all at Lord’s Raceway, leading to a £7,000 offer to the owner.
Then calamity…Bendigold crashed to the track after competing only one circuit of the track in the 11-furlong Strathfieldsaye Free-For-All, leaving trainer-driver Andy Ryan with a bad shaking and a skinned knee.
J.P.( Jack) Moore from Maryborough took over the reins for Bendigold’s next start (again at Lord’s Raceway) when he drove it to win the Raywood Free-for-all, beating Ken Will’s pacer Star Hill by a head with a mile rate of 2.12.
A youthful John Dewhirst of Maryborough took over the drive on Bendigold for the Easter Handicap, resulting in the star’s tenth win in 14 starts at Lord’s Raceway. At his next start, in the Kennington Free-For-All, Bendigold galloped and finished second last in a field of 14 when driven by Eric Rothacker. The first two placegetters were driven by John Dewhirst and Jack Moore who had each won with Bendigold at his previous two starts.
Bendigold was then sold to big spending Melbourne owner, H.E. (Skipper) Taylor, and headed for Sydney to be trained by G.D. (Dave) Wilson, and his foreman, Cedrick (Syd) McLean. The sale price was reported as “not far short of the ten-figure sum that was refused last season”.
However, Bendigold was scratched from his Sydney engagements as he commenced to make mistakes when training on the short track at Bankstown. On resuming at Harold Park, he broke at the start when an easing 5/4 on favourite and finished 20 lengths behind the second-last horse. The horse was then swabbed and later barred from racing in Sydney. He was also gelded. When Bendigold won his first race outside of Bendigo he settled a lot of arguments. Driven by G.D. Wilson, he returned to the winning list by setting a track record when winning the 12 furlong Qualifying Handicap at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds in Melbourne in 2.10. having to be hard driven to beat the second horse.
He was then returned to his original trainer Andy Ryan at Pyramid Hill, where he was scheduled to race at a Saturday meeting at Boort. On December 11th 1959, he reappeared in the main race at Bendigo, the Bridgewater Handicap, but ran last.
Information for this article gathered from a Ryan Family scrapbook donated to the BHRC Memorabilia Collection, along with Bendigold’s rug, and race finish photo, by Monica McKay (formerly Ryan) daughter of the late Andy Ryan of Pyramid Hill
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