Bede is still a winner

The day was also the first ever memorial race day in honour of the Conjola trainer.

Murray trained a record eight winners to glory in one of his favourite events on the racing calendar, the Mollymook Cup.

Turf Club CEO Lynn Locke, who presented Murray’s widow Edie was a special plaque which will be hung in the club’s boardroom, said it was an amazing day to honour an amazing man.

“The day played out perfectly and I don’t think you could have orchestrated it better if you tried,” Locke said.

“From the great turnout, to the presentation to Bede’s son Paul taking out the trifecta in the Mollymook Cup, the day was just amazing and probably the best Mollymook Cup we’ve ever had.

“And for Paul to win the cup with Chief in Command, the horse that Bede last won the cup with, is very special and you can see how much it meant to the family when it happened.

“I might be a bad judge but I think Bede was watching down on us on Sunday.”

Even before Bede’s passing six months ago, Locke said the Turf Club had plans to honour Bede at a certain race day but he never decided one what day he wanted.

“Since Bede’s passing in March, this memorial day is something we have been planning,” Locke said.

“We thought what better day to honour his legacy than the Mollymook Cup, an event he had so much success in.

“And you can just see by the turnout and the emotion on the day, how many people Bede had an impact on during his life.

“He really was a special man and he is sorely missed by everyone, not just people in the racing fraternity.”

The inaugural Bede Murray Memorial Race was won by Matthew Smith’s How Sweet It Is on Sunday, ridden by jockey Mitchell Bell.

More Mollymook Cup coverage on page 40.