It is 62 years to the day, and this afternoon the Goulburn Harness Racing Club will honour the memory of the horse by unveiling a refurbished memorial.

Walla Walla who was foaled in 1922, was bred, trained and driven by Les Martin of Dalton near Gunning.

He didn’t commence racing until 1928 when as a five-year-old he made a winning debut at the Gunning Show.

In a racing career that spanned six years, Walla Walla became a house hold name, winning races throughout Australia and New Zealand. In 1929 he won the Brisbane Thousand and the Tasmanian Easter Cup, and the following year won the NSW Thousand. He broke the Australasian mile record in 1933 with a time of 2:02.4 and then in 1934 crossed the Tasman to beat a star studded field in a world record time of 2:04.2 for the standing start mile.

He was the holder of State, National and World records defeating the very best from impossible handicaps up to 216 yards behind.

It was feats such these that saw the phrase ‘further back than Walla Walla’ coined.

The champion horse mixed racing with stud duties and in his final year of racing he captured the 1934 Goulburn Cup for the third time from a handicap of 132 yards behind. Later that year he was retired, his track record standing at 52 starts for 22 wins and 11 placings.

His retirement from racing saw him continue stud duties for which he amassed a total of 158 winning progeny.

The refurbishment of the memorial was undertaken by Mr Ron Apps and this afternoon will be officially unveiled in the presence of the Martin family, Goulburn Mulwaree Councillors, NSW Harness Racing Club officials and members and friends of the Goulburn Harness Racing Club.

The occasion will be supported by a Metropolitan race meeting featuring a number of $20,000 races. With the main race of the day named in honour of the great horse, harness fans may see another record this afternoon when a strong field of in-form fast class pacers clash in the Walla Walla Stakes over 1710m.

Fernleigh Renegade from the Kerry Ann Turner stable has drawn ideally in barrier 2 but will have to contend with the speedster Bettor Bet Black in the early stages. With both horses preferring the leader’s role in a race, it sets up the event for a fast time.

The John Tapp trained Chariot King has struck form in his past couple of starts and will appreciate a drop in class following his clashes with Inter Dominion horses during February. Others with a winning chance include Saucy Legend and Im On Target who have both been very consistent at Menangle over the last month.

Race 1: Good field of C3 to C5 pacers are engaged here. Russian Ball is drawn to lead but can race fiercely. Highview Conall and Our Ruby Banner have been very consistent whilst Beaver has won 2 of his last 4. Sammys A Kriden is the sole second row horse which may prove beneficial when looking for some cover.

TIPS: 9 Sammys A Kriden, 7 Highview Conall, 5 Beaver, 4 Our Ruby Banner

Race 2: Field of 10 three year olds do battle here, many of which have contested races at Goulburn in recent weeks. The fillies Luda, Tralee Bromac and Distant Memory are coming off a NSW Oaks campaign and will probably find this a little easier. Of the colts, Fours Enuf Tas was an impressive winner at Goulburn on the 3rd October and a repeat of that effort can see him fighting out the finish. Zodiac Prince has shown improvement and from the 1 draw can be handy.

TIPS: 10 Fours Enuf Tas, 1 Zodiac Prince, 9 Luda, 8 Tralee Bromac

Race 3: Another interesting field of C3 to C5 pacers is engaged here. Don’t Call Me Crazy charged home behind Condagen in the Canberra Cup last month and should be hard to hold here. Ohyouluckything who drawn 1 and Three Over Three have been in excellent form at midweek Menangle meetings. Blazin N Cullen is a NZ import having its first start for John McCarthy whilst the well performed Major Post is improving for new trainer James Rattray but is drawn wide in barrier 8

TIPS: 4 Don’t Call Me Crazy, 1 Ohyouluckything, 6 Three Over Three, 8 Major Post

Race 4: This is a very strong race of quality mares with 8 off the front. Awesome Belmer was a fast finishing 4th in the Group 1 Ladyship Mile on Inter Dominion final day. She will be charging home again in this. Delightful Christian from the Inter Dominion winning stable of James Rattray has wraps on it and will be further improved following a good win at Menangle earlier this month. Little Red Cloud was also a fast finishing winner on Inter Dominion final day and with little obvious speed the Dean Cernovskis trained Far Too Rusty has her chance to take up a leading position in the run.

TIPS: 6 Awesome Belmer, 2 Far Too Rusty, 7 Little Red Cloud, 8 Delightful Christian

Race 5: This is a difficult race as many of these are not in their best career form. Signs and Wonders has been improved by 2 runs since a spell whilst Toolijooa Dawn as a C3 faces a big rise in class but is racing well with 2 good performances in fast time at Menangle at her last 2 starts. Corey Odonohue is well drawn and is a winner 5 starts back whose form since has been ok

TIPS: 2 Corey Odonohue, 9 Signs and Wonders, 1 Veracity Red, 6 Toolijooa Dawn 

Race 6: Im On Target has been very consistent this preparation and he like Chariot King will appreciate the drop in class here with both having good recent runs against the leading Inter Dominion horses. Saucy Legend has performed strongly in his only 2 starts since returning from Brisband and Fernleigh Renegade and Bettor Bet Black will vie for the lead and should be in the finish.

TIPS: 7 Im On Target, 5 Chariot King, 6 Saucy Legend, 2 Fernleigh Renegade

Race 7: Ginger Bliss was beaten a head in the Chariots of Fire by the superstar Guaranteed and will be very hard to hold out here. Hardest to beat appear to be the consistent Essbee Doubleyou and Ballochbuie. Others with a slight hope include Prince Kai and Screaman Seaman TIPS: 6 Ginger Bliss, 5 Essbee Doubleyou, 3 Prince Kai, 2 Screaman Seaman

Race 8: Theartofdelusion can improve on last start after drawing 3. Mega Alexander is in consistent form whilst McPocket and My Dusky Sound after drawing 1 and 2 respectively can find a good spot in the leading division. Hard race overall with the best appearing Theartofdelusion

TIPS: 3 Theartofdelusion, 1 McPocket, 8 Mega Alexander, 2 My Dusky Sound