The Bendigo Easter Gift is an entirely different event from the Bendigo Thousand. The 1952 Bendigo Thousand was conducted 8–10 March 1952. Mann, running off a handicap of 7+1⁄4 yards (6.6 m) came second in the second semi-final to the eventual final winner Dave Hobbs, who ran off 9+1⁄2 yards (8.7 m). Hobbs won the semi-final in 11.7 seconds, equalling the record set by Australian sprint champion, John Stoney, in 1948. Hobbs set a new race record (11.6 seconds) in winning the final (see: Bendigo Thousand to Burnie Gift Winner, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Tuesday, 11 march 1952), p.15.
