This is usually the part where I refer you to the Harnesslink report that I've written for the meeting, especially as I'm now more than a week behind schedule. Only, I didn't write one for the first time this season. A fact which has upset me so much that I had to apologise to some of last week's winners when I was at Corbiewood on Thursday night. I felt as though I had done them out of their moment in the sun, although an article was published on Harnesslink celebrating the winner of the VDM Prep race (well done John and Sam Howard with Tyrion Hanover, and of course to Richard Haythornthwaite who got that winner at Corbiewood he was after). However, Friday 8th July saw 8 races staged at the track, and it seems such a shame that seven of these were not covered. I could have done it myself, but was advised by the editor that there was no need. Seemingly if it's not big news, it's no news. Try telling that to the people winning races for the first time in their lives as they approach the big five-oh...
So here goes. This is the poor man's version of the Harnesslink report I would have written. But seeing as I'm averaging between 250-300 views on this blog per week, with readers from USA, Canada, France, Australia, Ireland and the UK, it isn't that far behind. After all, I'm here to celebrate everyone's achievements, no matter how small, because weekly racing is what feeds the big meetings and what keeps the professionals and amateurs in business.
The Friday night of racing saw a training double for John Nicholson who has already enjoyed plenty of success north of Hadrian's Wall this year; the first saw him steering Valerie to victory in a maiden event in which the mare came home virtually unchallenged by two lengths from Just A Little, who in turn was 11 lengths clear of Styx Locomotive and the two-year-old No Brakes who battled it out for third, with the former coming out on top by a neck. Later on in the evening, son John Henry Nicholson took up the reins with Silver Alert who was an odds-on favourite following recent form, and again it was a case of coming home unchallenged as the field finished in a bunch behind, with veteran Grinnin CT beating Jennas Gold who had been parked two wide the full trip.
Ally Mackenzie isn't one to be outdone and he too notched up a training double for Trackside Racing Stables with son Stuart piloting both horses to victory. The first came in the form of Kikis Virtue, a mare who had only finished outside the first three once in 12 starts, convincingly beating the in form Bayrigg Tonto and former juvenile champion ATM. The second win was delivered by Starzapan from a 10 yard trail, making it two from two for the mare in consecutive weeks. Burning Dust was second with Jasper Hill narrowly beating Mega Star for third.
Imogen Camden notched up her second win of the season when beating Yokalady who many punters felt would have run closer had it not been for a steady drive early on. Richard Haythornthwaite went one better after his 4th place on Mega Star to take third with Millie May West.
He went even better in the feature race of the evening, the Vincent Delaney Memorial Prep race when winning comfortably with the imported colt, Tyrion Hanover. Interference from Mikala Camden as the trailing field rounded the last two bends meant the little horse recorded a 12 length margin of victory, as the filly hampered main challenger Share A Smile. Frankie Camden followed closely behind him, and the fillies were some distance behind them again.
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| Derek Delaney presents the trophy to winning owner John Howard (W Paterson/B Cardno photo) |
The final race of the night was yet another horse making it a back-to-back double; Vyrnwy Smoke had notched up a comfortable victory the week before with Lauren Moran taking the hotseat. This week it was her mother, Carol McPhail, looking to score her first driving win at the age of 48. The horse bolted in with an 11 length winning margin from the eternally game veteran Kasbest. Anniejoan stayed on for third.
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Week 11 kicked off with the traditional Thursday night racing at Corbiewood and this week we took our 2yo filly, Crosshill Ace, for her first ever race. Having spent a bit of time off due to a cold, she was coming to the track to put into practice everything she had done in solo workouts, whilst getting the experience of being in amongst a race as an added bonus. She was drawn 4 on the gate, which following the false start caused by the horse drawn 1 (which was subsequently moved to the outside), saw her get moved in to post position 3. Still not the best of draws so her driver took her to the back of the field and she ran the trip out eventually finishing fourth. I was delighted with her performance as she'd knocked 4 seconds off her PB in clocking 2.07.67. Naturally, all eyes were on the winner, another 2yo filly, Victoria Camden (Mypanmar-Penn Kinki Touch) who had won in 2.05.9. This shaved 9/10s of a second off the existing 2yo filly record set by Rhyds Topaz in 2010, and this filly now looks like a serious prospect for the remainder of the summer.
The rest of the evening's racing can be reviewed here.
Smarty, along with two other bookmakers, chose not to stand on Thursday night. I can't speak on behalf of the others, but his reasons were a mixed bag of knowing it would be a struggle to break even or win his expenses, a stalemate between the club and the bookmakers regarding a stand alone fixture being run by the club at a different venue, and simply wanting to prep our horse and watch her race in the same way that the rest of our gang do every week. What happened after that was quite frankly ridiculous.
I lost count of the number of people asking me why the bookmakers were not standing, or 'protesting'. Firstly, I had no knowledge of any protest, and secondly, ask them! They were all there (well, apart from one, who drove in to the track, said her piece, and left again). Then when we went home...well, some people simply have too much time on their hands. I literally heard it all on social media Thursday night, my favourite being that the bookmakers could have stood and either not priced up fancied horses at all, or priced them up and then refused to take bets.
HA.
I about choked on my cup of tea when that pearl of wisdom was cast into the mix. Imagine if they'd done that?! Smarty didn't build up his reputation as a bookmaker by not pricing up or knocking back bets. And last time I checked, self-employed people could take days off whenever they like.
Or should I hurry up and get those charity registration papers completed ready for next week?! Because turning up at ANY track in the country knowing that it's going to take an act of God (who most probably isn't real) to even win back your expenses of going there is nothing short of madness. I wouldn't work for nothing, and I sure as hell wouldn't work AND lose money.
Matter closed. Consider the goat absolutely butchered this week. As someone said, 'you can't teach pork'.
From Cowboywood (aptly-named) we headed to Tir Prince for a bumper 10-race card, including the 3YO colts and fillies, the VDM prep races (split for colts and fillies), two Le Trot races and the Crock of Gold second qualifier.
I'm sure everyone's highlights from the night are different, and it was a night of plenty of action and good racing. For me it was seeing Miraculous and Jessies Conquest dominate their 3YO races; two horses who were not only exceptional juveniles last year but have proven this year already that they are top class. I cannot speak highly enough of Jessies Conquest in particular; she is effortless in everything she does. I've said it before and I'll say it again: we all dream of breeding and owning a filly as good as her. If she was mine, I would seriously consider sending her to America to race once the season is over here; she really is that good.
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| Jessies Conquest and Marc Jones winning (again!) (Graham Rees photo) |
My other highlight came from the Oakwood Stud Grey FFA Race. Last year this was won by Wellfield Ghost who beat Shades Of Grey by the narrowest of margins. The judge's decision on the photo finish took a long time to be announced and the longer we waited the more driver Sarah [Allen] became convinced that she'd been pipped on the line by James [Haythornthwaite}, who was convinced he had got up just in time. This year they faced each other again, alongside Cool Night Ayr, who was running for the last time for owners Simon Clarke and Kirsty Legrice (Millstream Stud) as he was heading to Ireland to his new owner Thomas Bennett that night, Ayr Hero, Blue Incredible and Coalford Chief. With Shades being in such fine form following on from her win in a heat of the Famous Musselburgh Pace and her second at the same track in the FFA behind stablemate Brywinsmagicpotion, she was entitled to be a 1/3 shot. Patrick Kane was driving Ghost for the first time, as regular driver Sarah is currently sidelined and other regular driver Andrew Cairns was partnering Coalford Chief.
I ran across from the joint in time to see Ghost lead out in his usual manner; having made every post the winning post in the final at Aberystwyth a couple of years ago I know as well as most that this horse likes to lead from the get go and Saturday night was no exception. With Shades sitting in third and Coalford Chief sandwiched between them, Patrick looked as though he was struggling to hold the horse somewhat in front. I found myself talking out loud giving him driving advice: 'don't choke him Patrick, let him roll'. Heading down the back straight for the second time he was opening up in front and Shades looked to be making no headway in passing Coalford Chief and that's when the people around me starting saying 'the winner's in front'. At that moment I knew it was safe to start cheering them home and as they stormed up the home straight nothing was coming near him. He was as convincing a winner as he's ever been and clocked a nice 2.00.3 for his troubles. I didn't know if Rachel [Sydenham] had made the long journey up from south Wales but I did know that Annette [Wilson] wasn't there so I figured the duty fell at my feet to get in that photo as one third of 'Roy's babes'!
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| The top grey on the night: Wellfield Ghost & Patrick Kane Jnr (Graham Rees photo) |
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| Derek & James Delaney, Oakwood Stud, presenting owner/trainer Roy Sheedy with his rosette (note my safe distance from Ghost's head, and Patrick trying to hold him still!) |
My favourite quote of the night came from Patrick when he shouted over, 'Hey Roy, he's got some gate speed!'. Yes, he really has.
Here's a link to the race, courtesy of our media specialist on the SHRC Facebook Admin Team, Elizabeth O'Neil: https://www.facebook.com/scottishharnessracingclub/videos/646628448845341/
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| Michael O'Neil & me enjoying the racing at Tir Prince |
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| Smarty & me at the family wedding on Sunday |
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| The Gaffer & me |
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| 'Father of the Bride' (and he even had boxers to prove it!), The Jockey & me |
Before I head off, and although I'm in danger of finishing this poor goat off for good, can I just take a minute to draw your attention to the farce that has been the objection to Evenwood races (due to be staged on Sunday 24th July near Bishop Auckland - BE THERE) being staged at York Harness Raceway. The date was granted some time during the winter with no objections. The only other meeting on that date is at Amman Valley, south Wales, thus serving an entirely different circuit of horses.
The committee then advised the BHRC that they wished to stage the meeting at York, with the consent of owner Mick Welling. May I add that this was his sole involvement in the venture - hiring out his venue. The BHRC then decided that this could, and would, not be allowed. Hmmm. Have the date. No, don't have the date. You can have the date, but only if you stage it somewhere other than York, because it will have an adverse effect on a fixture 2 days later in another country. The people of the north east are not being very well served by their governing body if you ask me.
FORTUNATELY, through the good work of the committee, an alternative venue has been secured and racing will hopefully go ahead. I'll be there. I suspect those who objected and those who upheld the objection will not. With all the women in politics taking the top jobs now, perhaps it's time to consider that option for leading the harness racing forward. Just don't look towards me, I'm too much of a loose cannon on this 'ere blog of mine.
Over and out,
#1 Groom
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