1984 Interdominions - Globe Derby Park, Adelaide, Pacers' Grand Final: Gammalite

As in Auckland the year before, Gammalite was to have the luck with him when the Grand Final barrier positions were drawn. This time he drew the three alley and bookmakers immediately installed him 2/1-on favourite. Justifying this, Gammalite was in front after fifty metres and after dictating all the terms was home with three to four metres to spare in 3:22.5 for the 2600 metres, a 2:03.0 mile rate. Nothing got a look in as Gammalite sprinted the last 800 metres in 57.8 seconds. Thor Lobell was a fighting 2nd which was his best effort of the series with Bundanoon finishing 3rd. Black Irish was 4th, a nose in front of Our Mana, whose rocky run was made no easier by the flourishing whip of Black Irish's driver Chris Lewis, who was subsequently reprimanded for using his whip outside the confines of his sulky.
In this clip, as Wally Foreman is closing it out, the guy wearing the white cap behind his right shoulder is me. We were over from Auckland on holiday staying with my mother-in-law and I went to all four nights of the carnival.

[@mainbeachbob]

The interesting thing was that the tote odds were almost even money . Thanks again for more memories.

[@brendonoconnor4484]

Absolute tragedy that Popular Alm was injured 2 months before this Inter Dominion, would have made a clean sweep of this series even with Gammalite in such great form, but Popular Alm was always just a little bit better than Gammalite.

[@iangrant1932]

Thanks Brendon. I enjoyed the carnival at Globe Derby Park attending all four nights and I am in the blue shirt and white cap over Wally Foreman's right shoulder at 12:09 after the Bruce Clarke interview. If you enjoy watching Popular Alm, have a look at the two 1983 Tasman Challenge races I uploaded. Cheers, Ian.

[@marklulham3148]

Except in NZ edition of Inter Dom when Gamnalite beat him. 3 heats in a week and then final undid him. But yes, he did have his measure overall. 10/11??

[@tristananthony8543]

It's like saying Federer was a better player than Nadal, but he couldn't beat him at Wimbledon in the Grand final. The interdominion is the pinnacle of harness racing. Technically, Gammalite was a better horse

[@brendonoconnor4484]

@@tristananthony8543 Yes, true Federer was a better player than Nadal at Wimbledon, Federer won 8 times & Nadal won twice. They met three times in the final, Federer won twice & Nadal once..... Probably a bit tough for Popular Alm to win this interdom series if the horse was out injured for the year...

[@tristananthony8543]

@brendonoconnor4484 he had every chance the year before in New Zealand. Led had his own way in front, ran to the middle of the track, but was overpowered. He was an outstanding champion Poppy. It's a shame he had the Vinnie curse of never winning the interdominion

[@birdie2034]

once Gamma lead #RaceOver