Locally-owned Pacer, Mister Red Shoes, was on the menu for Greyhounds 12 months ago. On the 1st of May, Mister Red Shoes leapt off the plate to win a race above its class. The horse, owned by Young businessman Doug McCormick, and Karen Lemon of Harden, beat a competitive field to win the Battlers Stakes, Race 8 at the May 1st meeting. The win was the first from five starts, with many horses going twenty or thirty races before their first win. The horse was to be sent to the knackery to be made into dog food, but McCormick and Lemon intervened. “We couldn’t do this, we’d have to buy him…on the condition Geoffrey [Brown] would train him,” said McCormick. The decision paid off for McCormick and Lemon, and Mister Red Shoes will now race on Friday afternoon in Young. Mister Red Shoes has drawn a second row position in Race 5 at 4:08pm this Friday at the Young Showground. The meeting starts at 1:44pm, and will culminate with two Tabcorp Park Menangle Country Series heats.

FIRST WIN: Emma Turnbull of Bathurst brings Mr Red Shoes home in Race 8 on Friday, May 1 for the pacer’s first win from five starts after having a rocky start in the industry. Photo courtesy of Martin Langfield - Classique Imagerie Studio.

FIRST WIN: Emma Turnbull of Bathurst brings Mr Red Shoes home in Race 8 on Friday, May 1 for the pacer’s first win from five starts after having a rocky start in the industry. Photo courtesy of Martin Langfield – Classique Imagerie Studio.