JIM Goldie experienced both sides of the racing coin at Ayr's opening Flat fixture of the year yesterday.
The Uplawmoor trainer landed the first race with Pips Magic but later saw locally owned Ballantrae Boy put down after the gelding severed a tendon in a front leg in the five-furlong handicap.
Ballantrae Boy, who has won twice this season for his owner-breeder Jim McGee, still managed to finish third behind the eventual winner, Hiltons Executive.
''It's such a shame and I feel particularly sorry for Jim as he had been so patient and the horse came good for him this year,'' Goldie said.
Pips Magic had earlier given Goldie his seventh success on the level in 1998 when squeezing through a gap in the closing stages to snatch the novice stakes.
The colt carries the colours of Jersey electrician Frank Brady and his trainer said: ''We've tried running him up with the pace but he kept emptying so the plan was to drop him in today.
''He won a decent six furlong Ripon maiden and I was quite surprised when I saw he was 20-1 today.''
Peter Monteith chipped in to land the maiden claiming race with 16-1 shot Prophits Pride, who was winning his first race at the nineteenth attempt under jockey Ollie Pears.
''He's had leg problems and has broken down twice, so he is no great wonder horse,'' the Rosewell trainer said after having bagged his third win on the Flat.
''Ollie just seems to click with our horses and he rode another fine race out there.''
Monteith, whose current National Hunt haul of 15 is near 50% down on last season's total, added: ''Racing is a very expensive business and you need a combined number of about 25 winners a year.''
Redoubtable, a one-time favourite for the 1994 2000 Guineas, reeled in a much smaller prize when pipping Almuhimm in the Tote Handicap.
Meanwhile, Ayr stages another newcomers' card this afternoon when racegoers are invited to view the facilities at Scotland's premier track in all enclosures for a one-off price of #7.
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has a good record at the Craigie course and his Manton raider, Ormelie, should not be far away in the Gilt-edged Maiden Stakes.
The colt drifted badly in the market when fifth at Newbury last month and he has the benefit of champion jockey Kieren Fallon on board as he steps up to a mile and a quarter.
One of the oldest Flat horses in training, 14-year-old Densben, is among 11 declarations for the Greig Middleton Private Client Handicap.
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