Races named for trainer Bede Murray
Two races in NSW this week have been renamed to honour popular South Coast trainer Bede Murray who has died aged 80.
On hearing of his death on Wednesday, racing officials put Murray’s name to the Provincial Championship Qualifier at his home track, Kembla Grange.
Murray won the inaugural $400,000 Provincial Championship last year with Sure And Fast and his three runners in Friday’s Kembla Grange heat will start in his name.
Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill, the last chance for fillies to get automatic entry to the Golden Slipper, will also bear his name.
The Murray-trained Victory Vein won the 2002 Magic Night and then ran second to Calaway Gal in the Golden Slipper before winning the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes.
Murray was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and his health had recently declined.