PATRICK Kane junior and Donal’s brother Tadhg were able deputies for the absent Donal Murphy on Sunday.

Donal was at the top end of world trotting, in attendance at the fabled Fall Trot at the Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky.

Donal has forged a great working relationship with US transport magnate Bill Donovan. Donal will be helping Bill Donovan to select ‘his next World Champion’.

As the Florida resident has already owned at least three world champions, this is no idle boast. The sale is the Lexington Select Sale held at the Fasig Tipton pavilion.

Obviously, most of Donovan’s purchases will remain in the US where purses will average 10 times or more than the Irish standard.

At the same time the team will hopefully send something ‘home’ to Baltimore where the owner seems to get a great kick out of our racing.

As often mentioned in these pages, Donovan is the main sponsor of the Red John Memorial held in Lyre during June.

In an interesting development straight out of the thoroughbred book, the Murphys prepped two three-year-olds (the filly Reclamation and the gelding Rebel Rouser) in Cork this year before flying the horses out to JFK Airport, New York to continue their careers in America.

As pundits reckon the climate and the tracks in the US mean an eight second differential in times this would put the exported horses in with a reasonable chance. Another Corkman, Robbie Cleary, will train Rebel Rouser while Reclamation will go to the massive Ron Burke organisation.

Alongside the standardbred auction there will be a wide cross section of stakes races for both trotters and pacers.

The track takes its name from the compacted red clay that makes up the surface. US trainers have long believed it to be one of the fastest surfaces on the continent.

Coming at the end of the arduous US season, the Red Mile meeting has traditionally been the place to push horses to their peak in order to obtain the all-important ‘mark’ on the animal’s record. With the evolution of the standardbred, a sub 1.50 time for the mile is now the goal for all serious breeders.

Donal was asked to drive in a race at the Fall Trot last year.

Speaking from Dublin Airport last weekend, he had no plans to drive but was “looking forward to learning from the world’s best.” The Irish Field hopes to carry a report of Donal Murphy’s time in Lexington during the close season.

JACKIE GALWAY

Irish harness racing lost one of its longest standing supporters with the passing of Jack Galway of Belfast on Monday, October 1st.

Jack and his brothers campaigned horses for many years including Integrity, Miss Ayr, Cam Operator and most recently Balarou Des Iles. Jack died from complications of an illness. He was 54.

Everyone involved in the sport will miss his generous nature and his legendary tilts at the bookies. RIP.