TEN YEARS AGO – AUGUST, 2010:

NSW stayer Blue Lorian for Peter Whye wins the National Distance Championship final at Angle Park. Queenslander Dashing Corsair ran fourth.

Smooth Fancy completes a NSW double in the Nationals by winning the Sprint grand final, trained by Anthony Azzopardi.

Mr. Metz for Ron Ball wins the Townsville Cup over 498 metres in 28.87.

TWENTY YEARS AGO – AUGUST 2000:

Ngarutao, trained by Tony Zammit for Dennis Godfrey, wins the Gold Coast Cup at Parklands, beating Hypo Havoc and To the North. The Gold Coast club was struggling financially with twilight racing and the winner collected $12,000, down from the race’s prizemoney of previous years.

Shirdon’s Alarm for Linda Britton wins the Darwin Cup worth $12,000 to the winner. Mallee Rebel and Touching Base filled the placings.

Hotshow Vintage for Jason Thompson wins the Gold Collar at the Meadows, worth $12,000. Suellen Bale and Mystical Gem were the placegetters.

THIRTY YEARS AGO – AUGUST 1990:

Christmas Doll, trained by L. Castle, wins the Silver Bullet over 485 metres at Newcastle’s Beaumont Park.

Bonnie’s Hope for David Palmer wins the Gabba President’s Cup over 704 metres in 41.77, a smidgeon quicker than the previous year’s winner Empire Dancer who ran 41.79.

John Cain resigns as premier of Victoria over a series of financial scandals. He is replaced by the first female premier of that state, Joan Kirner.