WHEN one of Tasmania’s best performed greyhounds Bell Haven retired from racing about two years ago the only regret her trainer and owner had was that she was unable to win a Group 1 event.
But almost three years after Bell Haven finished second in the Group 1 Association Cup at Wentworth Park in March 2013 Greyhound Racing New South Wales has officially declared the Tasmanian bitch the winner of the race.
First past the post in the Association Cup was Fancy Liza but she returned a positive swab that has been the subject of a number of appeals by her owners.
But the final appeal was dismissed last week leaving Bell Haven declared the official winner of the prestigious Group 1 staying event.
Bell Haven’s owner Debbie Cannan and the bitch’s trainer Ted Medhurst believe the outcome is a just reward for the talented bitch.
“If ever there was a greyhound that deserved to have won a Group 1 it is Bell Haven,” Medhurst said.
“She contested so many Group 1 finals and finished second in many and some of them were due to interference that more than likely cost her victory,” he said.
Cannan was thrilled with the news and admitted she had been expecting the outcome but had almost forgotten about it because it was so long ago.
“When we first heard that the winner (Fancy Liza) had returned a positive swab due to an elevated hormone reading that was above the legal threshold we were confident Bell Haven would be awarded the race,” Cannan said.
“But when the appeals kept coming we pretty much forgot about it and just let justice take its course,: she said.
Bell Haven was brilliant on the racetrack notching 26 wins and 21 minor placings from 67 starts for $272,810 in prizemoney.
But with the upgrading to first in the Group 1 the difference between second place stake and the winner’s cheque is $56,250 that will have the bitch’s career earnings to just over $329,000.