Betts, who has just returned to the pacing industry with two wins in eight days at the fraying Tamworth Showground Paceway, asked the HRNSW to come good with the proposed new track beside Tamworth Racecourse. He was speaking after his flying filly, Alyeska Dream, won the Easters Landscape Supplies Pace Final at the Paceway on Friday.

“We need Tamworth to get this new track,” Betts said.

“I hope the HRNSW comes good with it.”

He was alarmed at suggestions a scaled down version of the initial track and grandstand would be built and instead asked they complete the original plans for a 950m pacing track, greyhound track (inside) and grandstand complex.

He believes the industry needs to have a good 950m track and stand in Tamworth for the sport to prosper in the Northern Inland.

Like many he is worried if the HRNSW doesn’t come good with the new stand and track the sport might die in the Northern Inland region.

He and his son, Robert, have had their pacing dreams re-ignited by the efforts of Alyeska Dream in the past week or so.

After a scintillating heat win she repeated that performance in last Friday’s Final.

“That was a pleasing win,” Betts said.

“It’s been a long time between drinks for us.

“Our last win was here in 1991 with Taco Lad. But then we lost my brother (Peter) suddenly. We had some good wins here too with Nephew James, he won four and Taco Lad won four too. 

“We gave it away after Peter’s death. We kept an interest in the breeding but that’s all. Then Rob got interested and we decided to give it a go again.”

The upshot of that is Alyeska Dream’s resurgent career. 

She has now won two of her nine starts and is entered for Friday’s meeting at the Paceway as well.

Unfortunately she missed a start in the four heats of a C1-C3 series where the $7000 Final will be part of the Gold Nugget afternoon January 16 meeting. There are also three heats of a C0 series running Thursday where the $7000 Final will also be run on that Gold Nugget program.