Robbie’s name up in Friday Night’s Lights

In driving his first winner Bevron (Imperial Count) at Addington on Friday night, sixty three year old Waimate driver Robbie Crawford’s name was thrust was the talk of the track.

Crawford has held a drivers licence off and on since 1986. His first drive was on his father’s horse Patron Lad at Gore in March 1990.

On Friday night Crawford pushed Bevron off the gate early before handing up to Jordan Anne and sitting in the trail.

Halfway down the straight he pulled Bevron off Jordan Anne’s back and in a tight finish Bevron got in the deciding stride to beat Clovelly Hill by half a head with Jordan Anne a head back in third.

BEVRON REPLAY

“You’ve got to time your run. The week before at Addington I saw daylight at the top of the straight and he peaked on his run fifty out so I held up for that one run. To get a win at Addington was a bonus because we thought he’d be more competitive on the grass,” Crawford said.

Prior to Friday’s win Bevron was the veteran of sixty nine starts. He began his career with Robbie Holmes who won one race with the gelding before Micheal House won a further two races.

Bevron was purchased from the Gavelhouse website in June of this year.

“Wayne Low picked him out. The plan was to buy a horse that would be competitive around the grass circuits. The intention was that I drive him and get a winner. Eddie (trainer Eddie Murphy) and Wayne have been mates for years – probably thirty years.”

Crawford shares in the ownership of Bevron with Low, Tony Rogers, Jimmy Campbell and Murphy who now trains the horse from his Waikouaiti base.

“Jimmy is an old fella around town who’s raced a few horses. This was his first winner so it was a great thrill for him.”

Crawford has worked in the banking industry for most of his life and he transferred with the bank from Mosgiel to Waimate in 1991.

“I’m a mortgage advisor although these days we have to call ourselves financial advisors.”

Robbie’s father Albie trained for many years in the Otago region. Spangled Mary was his best, winning six races.

“Dad was at Forbury Park for a bit, but we were actually out on the Taieri. He bought old Hec Anderton’s property at Wingatui. We were opposite Syd Brown at the time and used to work on his track. There was quite a harness racing community going back to those days.”

Bevron was bred by Bevan Heron and is the only foal out of Armbro Invasion mare American Connection. The pedigree extends back to Pipetre the dam of Heron’s very good trotter Nigel Craig with won twenty six races including a Dominion Handicap, two New Zealand Trotting Championships and an Ordeal Cup.

Crawford said Bevron could start at Kurow on Sunday, then they’ll look to race him on the grass racing circuit.

“He’s up the rating band again so it’s not going to be easy.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink