Annaghmore Sunday

THE 2024 harness season went out with a feeble whimper at Annaghmore last Sunday.

A few hardy souls braved the horrible elements, however, most of the regulars were at The Meadowlands, New Jersey for the $7 million Breeders’ Crown meeting, which rather dwarfed the €12,500 purses across a six-race card in Armagh.

On the home front, the closing meeting followed the pattern of the previous seven months, Patrick Kane in the family’s red and black drove a double, while championship runner-up Jonny Cowden in ‘Saunders Bianca’ blue and red, scored a consolation goal.

Harry Knows is the headline horse once more, as he beat four useful French Trotters with contemptuous ease. The stable star at Summerhill is still only seven, despite his wide travels and could well be the top dog in 2025 again.

On the day, Harry (1/2 best) was set to give the others 35 yards over a mile. Patrick did not push his partner in the early exchanges.

However, after the farmyard last time around, Patrick pushed the button and the response was immediate, they swept the field. Joe Caffrey’s new import Ginkgo du Corbon trotted well for second.

Patrick’s double commenced with Walter Stewart’s Battle Fever in the Grade F pace. Oakwood Bandit (Ryan Hanson for his uncle Eugene) made it a Causeway Coast 1:2.

Fifth win

Jonny Cowden drove a winner for Lawrence Stewart in the shape of Always Skye (4/7 fav), notching up her fifth win of the campaign. The Stewarts also won five races in Ireland with Letsgettoit and two with Battle Fever. Nice stats. The game Louis Vutton kept going to the line for second money with Dan McAteer.

Patrick Kane is photographed receiving The Irish Field silver salver, generously sponsored by this newspaper. Patrick drove 32 winners to Johnny’s 21.

Kane had the benefit of the top two-year-old Ayroplane and the remarkable Harry Knows. Jonny enjoyed good support from outside yards and his day must surely come.

The meeting opened with a battle between boyfriend and girlfriend, as Oisin Quill (Immodesto) edged out Charlie Flanagan aboard Biniou de Beuvron. Trainer John Richardson, speaking from America, said: “He’s a nice horse. I thought I’d win with him last week myself.”

The race was a Grade F, which leaves the winner plenty of scope to go up the handicap.

Kept going

Freddy Kavanagh bombed Hernani d’ Orient out of the gate in the Grade C to D trot and just kept going. I Want You Back (Martin Loughran) went in pursuit, but the bird had flown. Freddy’s new acquisition was backed from 6/4 on a dirty day for the layers in more ways than one.

Gentleman d’Alesa won the Grade E trot in impressive fashion for driver Calvin Broughan and veteran trainer Christy ‘Hopper’ Foran. The eight-year-old looks like he will be a fine replacement for Calvin’s doughty Bingo de Connee, who was retired with very little fanfare recently. Another new horse Hyrda Ouest was an encouraging second for Joseph Reenaghan.

That’s a wrap for the local trotting scene for this year. Huge thanks go to the long-suffering volunteers, who steward the racing. No officials, no racing and too many people are quick to criticise.

One constructive suggestion: With the exception of Driver Of The Year, which was collated by a non-IHRA official, there has been no public acknowledgment of trainer of the year, horse of the year, trotter of the year, pacer, three-year-old etc. To announce these winners in the close season takes away from their impact and the hard-working trainers deserve a trophy or plaque and a round of applause.

Irish go on tour to

enjoy two winners

SOME of the usual suspects from this column descended upon Jeff Gural’s Meadowlands complex last weekend.

The party included John Roche senior and junior, Christian Joyce, Sean Duggan, Ruairi McNulty, Gavin Murdock and John Richardson. The US season finale The Breeders’ Crown was the big event.

As well as ‘the Big M’, the tracks at Harrahs Chester and Pocono Downs are within three hours by car. Some of the Irish guys went to spectate at those venues. Happily, West Cork man Robbie Cleary sent out Shesnoparilfool and Oakwood Paddy to win for John Richardson and Ruari McNulty respectively.

John Roche said: “Everyone was so friendly. We got great access to the stables. The horses are very fast. They tend to be a handy size 15.0 to 15.2. I preferred Harrahs as a viewing track, although The Meadowlands is some facility.”

Dexter Dunn (originally from New Zealand) drove six winners at the meeting. He has driven in Ireland. Dunn is very approachable and shared a few drinks to celebrate with some of the younger Dubliners.