84 Hounds Take Part In Final Major Meeting Of Racing Season
Eighty four hounds competed across six races at Dubbs Lane as the HRA season reached its final major meeting.
The October Premier meeting featured a full programme of senior, maiden, puppy, restricted and veterans races, bringing together competitors from across the hound racing circuit. The six events produced close finishes throughout the afternoon, with several races decided during the final stages. Dubbs Lane provided the setting for the major meeting, which attracted substantial entries across the different categories.
The Seniors opened proceedings with 17 runners, with Let It Be making the strongest start from Jennys Chance and several other leading competitors. Baroness Ava, Blue Striker and Miterdale Rambler were also among those close to the early pace. The order changed repeatedly as the hounds moved through the course, creating a competitive race before the field approached the finishing stages.
Minnie Million moved into contention as the race developed before Foxparke Beep Beep and Foxparke Honk Honk took control. Beep Beep led over the wall and remained prominent with Baroness Ava and Honk Honk following closely. Blue Striker then produced a strong finish and moved ahead as the hounds dropped towards the line, eventually holding on to take the Senior honours.
Foxparke Honk Honk finished second behind Blue Striker, while Baroness Ava took third place. Let It Be completed the first four, followed by Minnie Million and Miterdale Rambler. The race was completed in 28.22 seconds, with the result providing an early indication of the competitive nature of the meeting.
The Senior Maidens followed with 11 runners, and Heartside was among those making the best initial start. Foxparke Cheese and Beans, Foxparke Elliot's Lad and Foxparke Dealer were also prominent during the early stages. Foxparke Dealer moved into the lead before kennelmate Foxparke Whoosh and Elliot's Lad became involved in the contest for the front.
Lucky Moon eventually took control as the hounds moved through the course, with Foxparke Whoosh and Foxparke Cheese and Beans among those giving chase. Whoosh held the lead approaching the final stages, but Lucky Moon produced enough to regain the advantage and secure victory. Thorn Thunder finished third, while Foxparke Cheese and Beans, Elliot's Lad and Dealer completed the remaining ticket positions.
The Pups race attracted 12 runners and provided another close contest. Bewley made a strong early showing, leading Charlie's Dream and Merle as the hounds climbed the fell. Zinger later moved into first place, with Acacia also joining the leading group as the race progressed. The runners remained closely matched through several stages before the final section produced a decisive change.
Zinger continued to lead when the hounds came through the gap in the wall, with Acacia and Miterdale Sauvage also close to the front. The leading trio then ran off, allowing Bewley to make the most of the opportunity and drop down strongly towards the finish. Bewley went on to win, with Merle second and Foxparke Jubilee's Jackpot third.
What Is It finished fourth in the Pups race, followed by Is It It and Charlie's Dream. The result added another successful performance for the runners connected with the Foxparke team, while Bewley's victory came after the hound had remained among the leading competitors during the earlier stages. The race time was 18.42 seconds.
The Puppy Maidens were next onto the course, with 11 hounds taking part. Blue Streak made a strong start and remained among the leaders alongside Meadow Rosie, Swifty and Tartan Raider. Tartan Raider later moved into first place before Foxparke Whoop Whoop took over the lead, with Croft Rose and Foxparke Jiggle also featuring prominently.
Tartan Raider regained the advantage as the hounds went through the bottoms, with Blue Streak and Bash On following closely. Blue Streak then produced the strongest finish of the leading group and went on to claim victory. The result gave Brian and Erin Rowlandson a double on the day after Blue Striker had earlier won the Senior race.
Bash On finished second and Tartan Raider took third in the Puppy Maidens. Snow Peak was fourth, followed by Foxparke Jiggle and Swifty. The race was completed in 19.59 seconds, with Blue Streak's late strength proving decisive after the lead had changed several times during the course.
The Open Restricted was the largest race of the meeting, with 22 hounds taking part. Senor made the best start from I Am It and Nellie's Pride, while Malfunction, Lady Million and Foxparke Sassy Girl were also among the runners close to the leaders. Senor maintained the advantage through several stages as the field continued across the course.
Lady Million remained within striking distance as the race developed, with I Am It and Foxparke Sassy Girl also involved in the contest. Senor still held the lead when the hounds came through the final gap, but Lady Million produced a decisive finish. She passed Senor close to the line to take the Open Restricted honours in a time of 17.56 seconds.
Senor finished second and Croft Lass took third, with Foxparke Rita's Rose fourth. I Am It completed the first five and Meadow Artisan took sixth. The large field made the victory particularly competitive, with Lady Million having to overcome Senor during the final stages after the early leader had controlled much of the race.
The final event was the Veterans race, which featured 11 runners. Eleanor's Lass was quickest away before a scale affected the early order, allowing Thorn Pop to lead the hounds out of sight as they climbed the fell. Sir Robert later appeared at the front, with Eden Romina, Eleanor's Lass and Miterdale Dusk also involved as the race developed.
Thorn Pop regained the lead through the bottoms before Miterdale Dusk and Sir Robert remained close behind. Milo Moon then moved into first place as the hounds came through the final gap, setting up another competitive finish. Miterdale Dusk produced the strongest run towards the line and passed the leading competitors to secure victory.
Sir Robert finished second and Miterdale Duchess recovered well from the earlier scale to take third. Summer Spirit, Eden Romina and Milo Moon completed the remaining ticket positions. Miterdale Dusk's victory brought the six race programme to a close and provided another notable result for the Steele family.
The six races produced a wide range of winners and close finishes, with Blue Striker, Lucky Moon, Bewley, Blue Streak, Lady Million and Miterdale Dusk taking the respective honours. The meeting also produced several strong performances from Foxparke runners, including Honk Honk, Whoosh, Jubilee's Jackpot and Rita's Rose.
The October Premier meeting marked the final major HRA meeting of the season, bringing together 84 entries across the six races. The programme included experienced seniors and veterans alongside younger pups and maidens, providing opportunities for competitors at different stages of their racing careers. With several races decided late, the meeting provided a competitive conclusion to the major programme at Dubbs Lane.
The results also highlighted the depth of competition across the different grades, with no single kennel dominating all six events. Several races featured changes of leader during the course, while the final stages proved decisive in determining the winners. The combination of large fields and close finishes made the meeting a significant event on the racing calendar.
The full results saw Blue Striker win the Hounds race in 28.22 seconds, followed by Lucky Moon in the Maiden race in 28.34 seconds. Bewley won the Open Pups in 18.42 seconds, Blue Streak took the Puppy Maidens in 19.59 seconds, Lady Million won the Open Restricted in 17.56 seconds and Miterdale Dusk completed the programme with victory in the Veterans race in 18.09 seconds.
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