THE last-minute rush to finish the new track at Lyre meant that only the closest neighbours had seen the set up before arriving for last Saturday’s racing.

The ‘harness racing family’ were collectively like the boy who got exactly what he ordered from Santa. Clusters of horsemen, even some entire families walked the track, touching the gravel and wearing awestruck expressions.

The Red John Memorial Weekend was the official name for the meeting and the Leap man was well toasted. Cork South West TD Mick Collins was present in an unobtrusive way.

Marianne Simonnot of Le TROT said a few words. Mark Flanagan, Chairman IHRA, spoke also. In his programme notes, Mark thanked volunteers, members, sponsors, national and international partners and those who continue to support harness racing in Ireland.

The track has been funded by the Government Sports Capital Grant, this was acknowledged often during the day.

The ribbon was cut. God bless Lyre Raceway and all who sail in her.

John Sheehy from the well-known Skibbereen harness racing family is a natural compere. Cian Cassidy from Wexford just keeps getting better with his accurate commentaries.

Naturally with a new course, the track record kept falling as the day wore on. As so often in the past three seasons, Ayroplane was the star of the show, setting 1.55.8 in the final race of the two days.

Young wolves

The meeting threw up many highlights. John Richardson and Patrick Kane jnr drove trebles.

A trio of young wolves had doubles; Eoin Murphy, Adam Corey, Rhyce Carroll and this augurs well for the future.

Sweet Royalty’s 1.58 could very well be a world record for a coloured pacing mare on a half-mile track.

The new track has a lighter surface than Annaghmore and banked turns. Lyre hard track is on average two seconds faster, maybe more than the Armagh venue.

Churchview Saka delighted the Roches by putting in a 1.57.6 trip. Another Heist won in 1.59.6, a new track record for a three-year-old.

Oakwood Paddy briefly held the record at 1.57.7 until Ayroplane shaved a second off this mark an hour later.

Harness racing makes much more reference to race times than flat racing and horsemen will be queuing up to enter as a fast ‘mark’ helps to sell horses locally and for export.

One disappointing aspect was that several horses short in the market on day one were not put into the race by their drivers.

The age old problem persists.