Keeping Pace: Sam Ison claims victory in 2021 Billy Grima Memorial race

The memorial feature was won by Just Tommy who was both trained and driven by Sam Ison for owners and great supporters of harness racing in Di and Rod Hazell with the six-year-old gelding returning $71 to punters.

Just Tommy has been in fine form of late finishing second to Miss Ciriello in the Golden Guitar Consolation back in January - beaten by a half head.

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With the Andy Ison-trained $1.30 race favourite Overthemoon (Tom Ison) leading the field, Just Tommy was placed three back in the outside running line.

Commencing a three-wide run 400 metres from home, Just Tommy gained the short half head win over Overthemoon and Montana Nights (Murray Sullivan) a further six metres away third and notched up a mile rate of 1.59.1 for 1980 metres.

The kid is back! After a spell and good trial form, Narrabri pacer Kid Montana will resume from his let up on Saturday night at Albion Park in the Designline Open Pace (2138m), drawing the four barrier.

Kid Montana has had three trials at Tamworth with the latest in a mile rate of 1.55.4 for 1609 metres.

The Rocknroll Heaven gelding had his last race start back in September, 2020 at Albion Park while undertaking a Queensland campaign under the guidance of Lola Weidemann who will take the reins on Saturday night.

Kid Montana has achieved 26 wins with six of those recorded at Albion Park.

King Of Swing trained by Belinda McCarthy and driven by her husband Luke won the Million Dollar Garrard's Miracle Mile in a mile rate of 1.49.2 last Saturday night. It was back-to-back wins in the race for King Of Swing who took out the 2020 running with a mile rate of 1.48. King Of Swing took home $550,000 for his winning efforts.

With International Women's Day earlier this week it is noteworthy to add that Belinda McCarthy was certainly in the limelight with being the first female to train the winner of a Miracle Mile back in 2013 with Baby Bling - 46 years after the inception of the race - and now becomes the first female to train two Miracle Mile winners.

The Team Teal Campaign will wrap up on March 14 and after 160 Australian reinswomen formed the Teal Pants Team. Congratulations to our North West reinswomen who have made their contribution to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Campaign driving winners in their teal pants. NSW was aiming for $50,000 and with a week to go in the campaign is already over $51,000.

Our North West winners were ambassador Jemma Coney (3 wins), Elly Chapple (1 win), Courtney Sutherland (1 win), Madi Young (1 win) and Sarah Rushbrook (1 win) and at a rough guess those wins would have added around $3,000 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Good job ladies and great job by the Ambassador Jemma as well.

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