THOSE stalwart souls who run harness racing in Ireland deserve credit for trying. The trainers were told well in advance that the season would start on March 27th.
Despite much cajoling and bonuses in the prize money there have been four meetings of between 14 and 30 runners per card. Unfortunately, Annaghmore on Sunday was a 14-runner card over just four races.
On a more positive note, the first feature meeting of 2022, the Bernie Kelly Memorial has flushed out 77 entries for a two-day fixture today and tomorrow.
Unlike the fare of the first four meetings, today and more so tomorrow will be a chance for newcomers to see some top-class harness racing. A group of older ladies attended for the first time a fortnight ago and loved the atmosphere.
Full results and the proper card can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com. Portmarnock Raceway is off the R107 at Kinsealey Chapel. The two-day meeting is run in memory of a much-loved administrator.
No doubt next week’s report will carry accounts of some big performances but for now we will deal with the sedate pace of things at Clive Richardson’s well-kept oval at Annaghmore, Co Armagh.
Noel Ryan, Sean Kane, Wayne McNevin and John Richardson were the four Dubliners who took a race apiece.
The meeting began with a feel-good story as Besame Mucho owned by Jim ‘Maxie’ Collins of Drogheda ended a long fallow period in the Grade A to D trot.
The 2019 Trotter of the Year was off the boil in 2020 and 2021. He has tumbled down the grades and looked a handicap certainty if he stayed trotting. This was a big ‘if’ as the good looking 11-year-old has been hard to keep level in recent starts.
Stable number one John Richardson jumped ship and opted to drive Binniou de Beuvron. Noel (Noely) Ryan is the Seamie Heffernan of trotting and like Seamie he has upset the plan a few times.
Miss a beat
On the day, Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Plenty in English) had his kicking boots on and did not miss a beat. “That was his last chance,‘’ said Maxie, who has trained countless champions in the coursing field. ‘’He went much better today,” was the comment of trainer Richardson, “we’ve been trying lots of little changes.” Suddenly the old stager is a contender for this weekend’s big pot.
JR had to be content with second aboard Binniou de Beuvron but he was obviously pleased for Maxie.
The popular Louth man had double reason to cheer as he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with wife Bernadette on Monday. The 3/1 to 4/1 was a measure of the confidence in the Meadowbranch yard.
The market got it wrong in the Grade F trot. Hucklebuck Shoes (4/5) is owned by track owner Clive Richardson, but the strapping six-year-old mare could not get to the pace setter Chippie des Landes and Sean Kane (7/4).
Sean put the success down to building the mare up. “She was too weak when she came in, look at her now,’’ Sean spoke from the sulky seat as the mare was too fired up to stand for a photo.
Great addition
Wayne McNevin and family have been a great addition to the sport. The Rathcoole man’s horses are always going forwards and daughter Leah is a real trouper. Wayne took out the highest-grade pace with IB A Magician while Leah was second on Newtown Alana.
Wayne explained that Magician missed a full season after breaking a pedal bone. “He wears an extra bar across his heel and full pads on his feet.” IB A Magician allowed your correspondent to lift his foreleg, and it is one neat job. Wayne was keen to mention farrier Anthony Malone and Andy Nolan who helps with the training. The winner clocked a respectable 2.02.7.
The short card closed with Meadowbranch Aurora (John Richardson) comfortably beating Romanz (Mark Kane) in a two-horse race. The time of 2.09.2 may be the slowest of the 2022 season, but she runs as commentator James Griffin pointed out “like a terrier”.
Two qualifiers (non-betting trials) were held before racing. The Gavin Murdock string, trained at the track, all looked to be ready for the new season.
An encouraging number of new faces both human and equine, schooled after racing which should translate into better cards from May onwards.
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