HATTIE BEE from the Rod Ransley kennel took out the Billy Grice memorial over 461 metres at UBET Park Hobart last night.
It was the fifth running of the event that was introduced to the Hobart Thousand program five years ago soon after Grice lost his life at the tender age of 16.
Grice was obsessed with greyhounds and spent most of his leisure time with greyhounds.
The race has become a much sought after event for trainers with Susan Gittus winning the inaugural event and Brendan Pursell trained the next three.
But last night it was Ransley’s turn and his talented bitch made every post a winner when she finally found the lead.
Hattie Bee began only fairly from box five but when she sidled up to race leader Rory Mac and crossed to the rails she sped clear and went on to win convincingly from the fast-finishing Tricky Tails with outsider Kalispell over four lengths away third.
The Grice family and many of Billy’s friends and team mates from his beloved cricket team make the vigil to UBET Park on Hobart Thousand night each year to pay tribute to the late teenager and last night was no exception.