WITH the loss of the legendary Tregaron fixture to the inclement August weather, the prestigious Welsh Dragon races for tw o and three-year-old pacers were hastily re-scheduled at York Raceway last weekend.

Yarkhill woman Sue Young was delighted that the opportunity to race her three-year-old colt, No Mercy was not lost and made the long journey with hope rather than expectation, well aware of the strength of the opposition.

Young, who is well known for her exploits in motor sport, holding several track records for Speed Hill Climbing, drove No Mercy herself, the only amateur driver of the six runners.

Defying the fact that he was the outsider of the field, No Mercy ran his heart out for Young and finished second to the odds-on favourite, Matador Hall (Alan Haythornthwaite), recording the fastest time of his career, 2:00.8 seconds, only fractions slower than the winner of the feature race Free For All, Connors Dragon.

Llanbister-based Roy Wilson was another local trainer/driver who made his journey worthwhile, delighting owner ‘Tosh’ Davies when his two-year-old filly Points West finished runner-up to the well-fancied Ayr Panama in the Junior Dragoness division.

With recent developments in the sport, there is much for those involved to look forward to for the 2009 season.