Racing WA

Inductee 2007: Beau Don

2 June 2007

Bred and raced by Tammin farmer Les Carter, from the first time that he was put in a cart Beau Don showed his trainer Bill Foy that something special which separates the truly great horses from those which are merely very good.

As a 3yo Beau Don won his first six races and left a series of records smashed including taking one and half seconds of the WA Derby record with a sensational last lap that left fans gasping as he came from an apparently impossible position to win with ease.

Beau Don then set a new Australian mark for a three year old over 12 furlongs as he beat older horses.

As a 4yo Beau Don took his record to 11 wins in 13 starts as he became a new record holder for the quickest graduation through the metropolitan classes to open company.

Beau Don became the first horse to win successive WA Trotting Cups lowering the State record by seven seconds in the process with wins in 1952 and 1953.

His awesome displays of speed attracted fans to Gloucester Park in their droves, despite a draconian handicapping system that saw Beau Don conceding almost impossible handicaps to his rivals. That he was still able to win 35 races in Perth against the very best is testament to his remarkable ability.

Fans loved him like no horse before him and only a select few since.

Principal Wins

3yo season
1952 WA Derby Group One
1952 WA Sires Produce Stakes

4yo Season
1952 WA Pacing Cup Group One
1953 WA Inter Dominion heat
1953 WA Inter Dominion heat

5yo Season
1954 WA Pacing Cup Group One
1954 South Australian Inter Dominion heat
1954 WA Easter Cup

7yo Season
1957 New Year Handicap