Great Harness Horses 1960-1890
BAY FOYLE
Once again I have chosen to feature a horse from that wonderful 1966 crop, about whom I have written so much in recent times. Make no mistake, Bay Foyle is not here just because he was from that particular crop, but because his racetrack performances warrant his inclusion. That he was able to perform so well against such talented opposition speaks volumes for his ability.
Bay Foyle was a stallion by Goose Bay from Glen Foyle. He had his first start in a 2yo event at Penrith on 1-5-69, winning by 12 yards from Royal Susan. He had his next start a week, later off 12 yards in a similar event at Hawkesbury. Once again he won easily and this time set a new race record with a 2-8 4/5 mile rate. His next start was at headquarters, HP, in the Edgar Tatlow Stakes where he finished 4th to the outstanding James Darren. On the 5th of June he went back to Hawkesbury off 24 yards in a 2yo race and once again made it a one act affair, winning easily by 8 yards from Prince Smoko. Five days later he raced there again, this time off 36 yards, and the handicap proved his undoing, finishing 2nd to Brother Goose. Three nights later he was back at HP for a 2yo event, and although starting 1-1 favourite, finished 3rd to Kiwi Lad and Tug Smoke. That was all the experience he needed to get to know the HP track. At his next start he easily won a
heat of the 2yo Challenge Stakes from Trotsky and Gallymont Road and in the final a week later downed Alecane by 7 yards with James Darren 3 yards away 3rd. This was an outstanding win and he set a new Australian record for the mile of 2 1 4/5, terrific time for a 2yo on the HP track of 46 years ago! His 2yo season saw 8 starts for 5 wins and 2 placings, a great start to what was to become a great career.
Given a 5 month spell, he resumed on 2-12-69 at Menangle in a 3yo event. Once again showing how quickly he comes to hand, he won easily after starting a red hot 2-5 favourite. Five nights later he won a heat of the NSW Sires Produce Stakes at HP, but in the final could only finish 3rd to Gregory Jame and Kiwi Lad. He then went to Penrith in a 2.27 class event (C1) and despite starting an odds on favourite ran a poor race to finish only 7th behind Alecane. A week later at Menangle he showed his true form by winning a similar class event by a big margin from Go Go Joe, and the following week at Parramatta easily won again.
He then travelled to Maitland for the time honoured Inter City Pace, a country event that had ALWAYS attracted the very best restricted class horses racing. This event had been won by some of the biggest names in racing and Bay Foyle wanted the chance to add his name to the list. In his first heat on 17-1-70 he ran 2nd to Gold Tod, beaten 25 yards, but 4 nights later won his second heat by the same margin. In the final on 24-1-70 he ran them off their legs, beating Gold Tod by, once again, 25 yards! It was a resounding victory. Two weeks later he raced at Hawkesbury and was sent out at the prohibitive odds of 1-20, but won as expected.
He then had a 7 week breather and next raced at Fairfield against the open class pacer Ilike Ike, beating him by just half a head. Back to HP on 3-4-70 for a 3yo event, he had to give James Darren 12 yards start because of his Inter City Pace win, and he could only finish 2nd to the great juvenile pacer. The following week they clashed again, this time both off 12 yards, and James Darren, narrowly, won again. The following week was the heat of the NSW Derby and he beat Dixie Boy and Welcome Advice convincingly, but in the final the following week only finished 6th to James Darren. His last start as a 3yo was in the R.C. Simpson Sprint where he finished 5 yards 2nd to James Darren with Welcome Advice 7 yards away 3rd. His 3yo season saw 16 starts for 9 wins and 5 placings, another exceptional season.
Bay Foyle kicked off his 4yo season four months later, on 4-9-70, in a 4yo event at HP and, once again, won first up. Off 12 yards the following week he finished 4th but then went to Penrith and won a FFA before being beaten in another FFA, this time at Fairfield. On 29-10-70 he went to one of his favourite tracks, Hawkesbury, and won from 12 yards and 2 weeks later won a Graduation Stakes at HP. On 20-1-70 he started in the Australasian 4yo Championship at HP against a top field and won beating Monara and Gallymont Road. A week later off 12 yards he finished 9th behind Precise Lass. Two weeks later he won a 4yo Invitation Challenge beating Kiwi Lad and Alecane in Australian record time but 3 weeks later at Hawkesbury could only finish 4th to Just So in the Hurricane Mile. He then went back to HP where he beat Neutrodine and Just So in an Invitation.
Given a short 7 week ‘breather’ he ran 2nd at HP after giving the winner, Mologan, 12 yards start. This form was considered good enough to get an invitation in the Miracle Mile to be run a week later. Nobody knew it at the time but this race was destined to become one of the greatest races ever seen at HP with the inclusion of the West Australian ‘wonder’ horse, Mount Eden. Of course we all now know how Mount Eden won after causing one false start and breaking at the start of the second attempt, giving the field somewhere in the vicinity of 50 yards start. He then proceeded to absolutely embarass the field by racing around them with ease and won by 15 yards. Those who saw the race, myself included, witnessed a performance that almost defied description. Bay Foyle, by the way, finished 3rd. A week later he ran 7th to the Inter Dominion winner, Stella Frost and a week later 7th again, this time to Mologan. It was obvious that he was missing some of his
‘sparkle’ but a 4 week breather saw him back to his best.
On 23-4-71 he won a heat of the 4yo Futurity and the following week won the final from Welcome Advice and Alecane. Spelled for 3 months, he resumed on 2-7-71 winning first up at HP but the following week could only finish 5th from 12 yards. At his next start he won an Invitation from 12 yards and 4 nights later won again at HP. On 30-7-71 he had his last start as a 4yo, being beaten a neck after giving the winner, Just So, 18 yards start. As a 4yo Bay Foyle had 22 starts for 12 wins. He was also voted NSW Harness Horse of the Year for 1971.
A week later, on 8-10-71, he ran 4th in the Whirlwind Stakes, then 2nd in a FFA and 5th in the Spring Cup after giving the winner, Welcome Advice, 12 yards start. At his next start he won an Invitation off 12 yards and the following week won a 2-18 class (discretionary) off 18 yards. He then went to NZ to compete in the 1971 NZ Cup. He ran 4th in True Averil’s Cup after giving the winner 12 yards start but 3 days later won the NZ FFA from Intrepid and Royal Trump. Five days later he was beaten a neck by Berkleigh in the Alan Matson Stakes after giving the winner 18 yards start, but 3 days later finished 13th, from the same mark, to Sassenach. On 4-12-71 he was beaten a head by Arapaho in 1-59 1/5, in the Stars Travel Miracle Mile and 3 weeks later finished 2nd again, this time at Auckland. Six days later he was involved in an accident in the Memorial Handicap and was pulled up, and 3 nights later, in the Auckland Cup, fell! That was the end of his NZ
campaign.
Given a couple of months off to get over his 2 accidents, he resumed at HP on 3-3-72, winning first up off 18 yards. Once again invited into the Miracle Mile he ran down the very speedy Reichman to win by a head. At his next start he was beaten half a head in a heat of the Lord Mayor’s Cup and the following week in the next heat was second again, this time to Welcome Advice. Off the same mark in the final he finished 5th to Welcome Advice. That was his last start as a 5yo. His 5yo season saw 18 starts for 5 wins.
Resuming on 3-10-72 for his final season of racing, he finished 8th, from 24 yards, to Princess Light. That was all the warming up he needed as he won his next start, a heat of the Spring Cup, from Nicotine Prince and Bold Biami. The following week he ran 2nd in the next set of heats after giving the winner 18 yards start, but in the final could not give the ultimate winner, Bold Biami, 18 yards start, and finished 9th. A week later he ran 3rd in an Invitation off 24 yards, then 2nd in a similar event, before winning off 24 yards from Celevale Van. On 10-11-72 he ran 3rd, from 30 yards, to Royal Calypso, then 3rd again, this time in a Menangle FFA. On 22-11-72 he ran 2nd in a Penrith FFA and 5 nights later won a Fairfield FFA. He followed that with a 7th at HP then a 4th and 5th in heats of the Summer Cup. Failing to qualify for the final, he ran 3rd in the consolation, off 18 yards, to Brett Armagh. He followed that with another 3rd off 18 yards before
winning a HP FFA on 9-2-73. This was a significant win for Bay Foyle as it set a new record for the most number of wins at HP, 21, breaking the old record of 20 wins set in the 1950’s by the super mare, Sibelia. On 16-2-73 he ran 4th in a heat of the Inter Dominion at HP and in his next heat finished 2nd to Reichman. It was to be his last start as he injured himself and was retired to stud.
Bay Foyle had 83 lifetime starts for 35 wins and 25 placings, a terrific record given the quality of opposition he faced for his entire career. He retired with a Horse of the Year award, the HP record for most number of wins at that track, a Miracle Mile victory and a NZ FFA win included amongst his vast number of Classic and Group race wins. Bay Foyle was a champion every year he raced from a 2yo until a 6yo and was ALWAYS a chance in every race he contested.
By Jim Hogan
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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