What’s Up Herbie capped an emotional week for Karen Pitt and connections by claiming the Judy Hayley Memorial at Sandown Park tonight.
A huge crowd poured in to Sandown Park for its signature Shades of Greyhound event. With the track, its staff, and the handlers in the race decked out in pink, it was only fitting that What’s Up Herbie would don the pink vest to lead the field out of the straight, cross to the rail and hold on for a popular win.
“He got held out a little early but he’s got great heart and kept trying until he found the lead and he was able to hold on,” said Pitt.
“He knows his way around and we thought if he could get across to the rail he’d be a chance. We weren’t too confident but we’re glad he got there.”
The excitement that came with What’s Up Herbie’s heat win last Sunday – Pitt’s first winner since returning to the track following the birth of her son – gave way to the emotion of winning a race named in honour of a women of such standing in greyhound racing, and for what the win meant for those involved with the greyhound.
“Judy was such a wonderful women, it’s a real privilege to be running in a race named after her and to win it is just fantastic. I’m very emotional with the whole story and everyone involved, it’s just fantastic to see him go so well.
“I read that Herbie’s breeder is very ill as well, hopefully he was able to listen in or watch and get a thrill out of his win too.”
The Judy Hayley Memorial is named in honour the popular Melbourne Cup winning trainer who passed away four years ago. It is open to female trainers only, and all trainers who nominated for the series were entered into a draw for a trip to New York and was won by Tammy Collins.
It is the feature race on one of the club’s signature events, the Shades of Greyhound Girls Night Out. More than 300 guests packed Sandown Park to enjoy a fun night out featuring live music and entertainment, cocktails, beauty treatments and plenty of fun.
The night raised $10,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation and the Monash Health Breast Oncology Unit, taking the total raised for various charities since the inception of the Shades of Greyhound night beyond $30,000.
Click here for the full results from tonight’s racing.
Karen Pitt gives What’s Up Herbie a well earned drink after winning the Judy Hayley Memorial
