Barrie Murray’s pacer wins at Blue Bonnets: Noble Hartack, a 3 year old brown pacing horse, owned by Barrie Murray of Shawville, won in 2.03 and 3 on Monday night at Blue Bonnets Raceway in Montreal.
Barrie bought Noble Hartack, (by Hartack Hanover-Party Queen) at a sale in Montreal, as a yearling. The colt had little success as a 2 year old, only making 5 starts, and was turned out to develop. This winter Barrie trained “Noble” at the Driving Club Farm, qualified him and started him once at Connaught Park before sending him to the Duncan MacTavish Stable in Montreal.
In his first start in Montreal the colt seemed unsure of himself and finished 4th. In his second start, on Monday, trainer-driver MacTavish had things well under control, sitting 3rd at the half in 1.02 and 2, he paced the last half in 1.01 and 1 winning by 1 1/4 lengths.
The Shawville Driving Club Farm’s annual race meet will be held on July 31st this year and if “Noble” continues to perform as at present Barrie will have a top contender in the 1976 Connaught Park “Early Closer”.
Five cars derailed on Hilton Mines spur: A derailment on the Hilton Mine line 2 1/2 miles south of Wyman, apparently caused by a broken rail, resulted in five cars falling off the track and sinking two feet deep in the gravel. The accident occurred on Monday.
Since this was south of the big bridge over the Meadow Creek it posed a problem for Railroad engineers estimated that the bridge might not carry the heavy cranes necessary to lift the cars back onto the track.
However, Tuesday morning they succeeded with the help of two big engines, in pulling one car back on the rails. They’ll have to bring out the cars one by one to Wyman junction until all five are out. Meanwhile, no use of the spur line to Hilton Mines is possible. No injuries were reported.