HARNESS racing returned to the historic Ely Racecourse, Cardiff and the sun gods smiled as more than 2,000 excited people flocked into Trelai Park for a golden evening. Many had not seen the sport before, and were treated to some hotly competitive racing liberally laced with highly charged emotion.

The first race set the trend, when London Lane Dancer, making her seasonal reappearance with Bret Strickland, caught Wellfield Ellie and Terry Laventure in the last stride, and the judges were unable to separate them at the wire.

Phlegmatic Maesmynis driver, David Bevan kept his name on the score sheets when Ray Cooper's attractive mare, Blackfield Annie made all to dominate the Intermediate event.

Newent trainer Debbie Wakefield had the most memorable of evenings, sending out three winners. Wellfield William and Sourbrook Romeo were both partnered by her farrier husband, Gary, but the most poignant victory of the trio was Jo Jo. Jim Kemp's 10-year-old gelding battled gamely to repel Duckwork (Brian Davies) and take the Pathfinder event giving her 15-year-old daughter Kelly the very first winner of her driving career.

Presteigne-based trainer Julie Price must have had a touch of altitude sickness from the highs of the evening. She was delighted when her son Julian partnered American-import With Conviction to success in the novice event, but was speechless with emotion when her charges finished first and second in the feature race of the evening, the Picture Financial Free For All.

RESULTS

Going: Good.

OPEN HANDICAP MILE: =1 London Lane Dancer (Bret Strickland) & Wellfield Ellie (Terry Laventure); 3 Scoots Mischief (David Bevan) 10 yds. 2:26.8. Dead heat, 3L. London Lane Dancer owned by Les Saunders & trained by Bret Strickland, Bristol. Wellfield Ellie owned & trained by Roy Sheedy, Penhow.

FREE FOR ALL: 1 Fold Flight (Jamie Davies); 2 Nite'n'Gale (Julian Price); 3 Another Mattie (Gareth Price). 2:25.3 Neck, head. Owned by Mrs J Perks, trained by Julie Price, Presteigne.

MAIDEN MILE: 1 Wellfield William (Gary Wakefield); 2 Wellfield Jakal (David Matthews); 3 Highland Gale (David Bevan). 2:28.9. 12L, 21/2L. Owned & trained by Debbie Wakefield, Newent.

NOVICE/IMPROVER: 1 With Conviction (Julian Price); 2 Brett's Affair (Brian Davies); 3 Just William (David Bevan). 2:31.8. Neck, 11/2L. Owned by Julian Price, trained by Julie Price, Presteigne.

INTERMEDIATE PACE: 1 Blackfield Annie (David Bevan); 2 High Heel Star (Gary Wakefield); 3 Cool Hand Luke (Nina Morgan). 2:29.3. 1L, 11/2L Owned by Ray Cooper, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.

OPEN HANDICAP: 1 Jojo (Kelly Wakefield); 2 Duckwork (Brian Davies); 3 Symlog Strawberry (Karen Lowes). 2:34.0 3/4L, 3L. Owned by Jim Kemp, trained by Debbie Wakefield, Newent.

OPEN HANDICAP MILE DIV 2 (Handicap reduced by 20 yds): 1 Sourbrook Romeo (Gary Wakefield); 2 Sherman's Pasha (Roy Wilson) 10 yds; 3 Proud Girl (David Matthews) 20 yds. 2.28.5. 21/2L, 1L. Owned by Baileys Trailers, trained by Debbie Wakefield, Newent.