IRISH harness racing tends to be dominated by around 12 drivers. These drivers, who all happen to be male, are professional in their approach although the purse structure means that all but a few have to support their racing with a ‘nine-to-five’ job.
Therefore, it was pleasing to see around six unfamiliar faces on the track at Portmarnock last Sunday as different stables unearthed some lady drivers and jockeys to race in the annual Ladies Day. Off the track, the day usually encompasses a best dressed lady competition, however Covid-19 restrictions prevented that popular event this year.
Women are underrepresented in Irish harness racing. With the notable exception of the internationally travelled Brenda Hudson (neé Dean) we have not really had a lady who could regularly mix with the best men.
Bea Farber (from America), Jaqueline Ingrassia (Scotland) Helen Morton (Scotland) and Natalie Rasmussen (New Zealand) are all examples of how women can compete with men in the sport. In France and Scandinavia, a high percentage of the monté or saddle riders are female.
As things stand a few hardy and talented younger women race on the Irish circuit regularly. The numbers were bolstered last weekend as Karen Ferris, Amy Roberts and Rebecca Kelly all joined the fray.
The pacing race in sulkies provided the best finish of the three ladies-only contests. Here Charlie Flanagan moved early with the classy Stakes On The Pan and held on from the fast-finishing Crack A Smile with Grace Kelly. Grace nearly stole our headline as the race was in memory of her mum Bernie, who passed last year and was a driving force in various organisations.
Charlie is in a rich vein of form at the moment and was similarly forceful with Biniou Du Beuvron in the trotting version. The win opened a double for the Ballyboughal driver. Emma Kane was second with her own Batingo who got going late. Karen Ferris who runs the Irish Equine Rehabilitation Centre near Aghalee was the best of the newcomers in third with Bella d’Espana.
“I enjoyed that,” Karen told The Irish Field. “But I’m really looking forward to the ridden race.” The amateur jockey, who has two point-to-point winners and two track winners on her CV, went on to say: “I had only heard of harness racing and had no idea how professional it is until some guys near me in the north started bringing horses to our spa. I am impressed at how thoroughly the horses are done.”
Ladies Monte trot winner Emma Kane and Cyclone De Couriere \Nadina Ironia
It was not to be for Karen in the monté contest. Her mount Diamond Dash broke early, as did Flatteur under Amy Roberts. Last year’s winners, Cyclone De Couriere and Emma Kane, were handed a wide margin victory. His win in the same race last year kicked off a sequence and owner Dan McAteer will be hoping that Emma has repeated the dose.
The fact that three of the four runners galloped highlights the skill of the mounted jockeys in France who fly around Vincennes within two seconds of the sulky (attelé) performers’ times.
Two for Roche
Billy Roche recorded two winners on the day. The Red Baron’s first winner came when Panam Colt took the scalps of landlord and neighbour Alan Wallace and Newtown Rock, the pair finishing third. Oisin Quill ran second with King Wills Arrival.
Billy’s double came when the cornerstone of his barn, Urbano Des Selles upset the favourite Eva Dairpet (Alan Wallace junior) in the D to E trot. Newly instated commentator James Griffin got to call his closest finish of the day, as the 12-year-old stuck his neck out by a half length.
Billy’s niece Emma plainly dotes on Urbano. For mischief, your correspondent asked if the horse was for sale? The reply came with a wide smile: “He’ll never be sold!” as the teenager proudly led her winner back for a wash.
Patrick Kane junior also bagged a brace. Lord Sugar has been heavily raced for a three-year-old and deserved his win in the G to G1 pace. Meadowbranch Rio (John Richardson) will be on the drift for the three-year-old championship as he failed to peg back the son of Foreclosure.
Patrick, a farrier by day, landed an upset when Oakwood Maestro beat the Gavin Murdock-trained All Bets Are Off in the closing race. The filly, another Foreclosure was the only three-year-old in the race and lost nothing in defeat. The Trim yard harnessed three winners on the day, as Patrick was of course ineligible for the ladies race!
Amends
The meeting opened with the well-gaited Hibernia and Alan Richardson making amends for the previous week’s costly hop in the three-year-old trot. Known as ‘The Iceman’, Alan’s motionless hands are a great help to a young trotter. Highland Princess finished strongly for Sean Kane for second.
In the F to G trot, Macroom proved once again why it’s known as ‘the town that never reared a fool.’ Young Luke Kelleher let Freedom Well trot on from the moment the wings of the gate folded and the five-year-old went further and further clear.
“She had niggly issues but we think she is sorted,” stated Luke’s uncle Tim on Monday. Patrick Kane’s brother Mark drove Ella Du Fosse for an eye-catching second-place finish in this. The organisers are working extremely hard to comply with the Covid regulations and there were examples on Sunday of the IHRA’s determination to run a tight ship.
Ladies Day is a fitting time to send best wishes to Brenda Hudson, a regular reader. Brenda is not enjoying good health at the moment. No doubt the fighting spirit which saw her roar home Double M and Rambling Rover amongst others will see her through.
Annaghmore Saturday
LAST Saturday’s meeting at Annaghmore was not on the original fixture list of the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA), but it was added to avoid congestion and an impractical number of races at the much anticipated Ladies Day at Portmarnock on the following day. An understandably small attendance saw four competitive races and two of which were won easily by the favourite.
He may have won Musselburgh, Crock Of Golds and Derbys but John Richardson still likes to plunder the northern outpost of the IHRA circuit. The 53-year-old from The Ward racked up a treble at Clive Richardson’s (no relation) track.
John and the tall and lean Emeric Du Perreux seem to have gelled this year and the driver pointed out recently that the six-year-old had no disqualifications on his French form, a sure sign of a steady trotter. In the B to E trot JR’s charge had to give the in-form Fortune De Ginai and Simon Duggan 60 yards but Emeric du Perreux won cosily in the end and must be a contender for Trotter of the Year.
John’s second leg came with the three-year-old He’s Meadowbranch. The vibes from the Ballyboughal set up are that this horse is one of their lesser lights, but the Trotteur Français breed in general mature a bit later than their American cousins so John will be in no rush. Hot To Trot came with a flurry for Sean Kane but the bird had flown.
John made it three with Noel Cowden’s Beat The Clock, a full brother to the same owner’s Sarahs Gift. Newtown Shadow and Billy Roche kept up the five-year-old’s good recent form. Favourite Ladyford Buck ran below his best.
Varus De Cormon looks a real handful to drive, the type that would shake hands with you. Cootehill based Bernard Nicholson is cool in the sulky and always seems to cajole a run out of the flashy chesnut. Once Bernard gets the horse going he is a determined sort with a low head carriage and a ground devouring stride. He devoured a mile and a half in 3.15.4 winning from long-time leader Umbratica and Billy Roche.
The two easy victories on the day were both driven by Gavin Murdock and are trained in stables behind the stand at the track. Oakwood Cowboy is already through to the final of the three-year-old series. He beat three ordinary sorts out of sight. The son of American Ideal is owned by Tyrone-born Ruairi Mc Nulty.
Similarly, the mare Elski was waited with and pounced after the dairy in the final quarter. Gavin has found the key to this mare who was winless when he took her on but is now on three wins from four appearances.
The PA system worked like clockwork on the day and hopefully will now be left alone as Sean Duggan’s commentary adds to the atmosphere.
Racing resumes today at the venue. Portmarnock race, under strict protocols, tomorrow. Results, entries and start times etc can be viewed at
www.portmarnockraceway.ie