Found some very interest paperwork in Max Johnson’s Document’s Case. With the Launceston Cup coming up next week. I found a race book from one of the heats nights in 1953. In those days it appears they had heats, semi-finals and the final. The winner that year was Rusty’s Hope a brindle dog by Jean’s Dream from Tiny Pam whelped July 1949. The Victorian beat Giften’s Wonder in 23 and 8/16ths over the 435 yards at White City. I am pretty sure Max must have owned him as a change of ownership was in the case. Also he was trained by J Brown I think the same Jack Brown who we found out trained Rookie Rebel the first Melbourne Cup winner. One puzzle I will put to Brennan Ryan our man in Launceston is the distance. GCA Honour Role records show the Cup being run over 430 yards from 1940 to 1955 after being conducted over 325 yards from 1936 to 1939. Is a correction necessary.
