HARRY Knows wrote yet another chapter in his successful racing career, picking up his second Red Mills All-Ireland Trot last Sunday at Annaghmore.

The winning photo will go up on the wall in Summerhill, Meath alongside the shots from Holland, Sweden and America. What a journey for a horse foaled, broken and nurtured by Paddy Kane and family.

Harry Knows’ Achilles Heel is that he has made little breaks on occasions when in contention. Experienced watchers of harness races will appreciate Patrick’s skill in driving the seven-year-old. He knows when to sit and when to go.

Huge credit must go to the gallant runner-up Graal Du Dollar and Jamie Hurley. Jamie tried to outstay Harry Knows (4/6, steady) and the fast fractions the Corkman set contributed to an Irish record of 3.02.9 for a mile and a half.

Elsewhere on the card, it was a good day for Cork raiders, as four of the 10 winners are trained west of Bandon.

Jamie Hurley drove a double. He took out the opener with Benny The Legend in 2.05.5 and the E to F trot with the admirably consistent Hotesse du Chassin (4/1). The trotting mare saw off Franchan de Roche (Adam Corey) and favourite Best of Burois (Gavin Murdock).

“She’s been unlucky, every time we travelled to race she was second. But she won nicely here. We’ll go in the heats next week,” was the comment from Reenascreena-based Jamie.

Camden keeps going

Drimoleague publican Derry McCarthy has owned winners recently in Northern Ireland, his native Cork and Wales. Teddy Camden (6/4) kept the good run going, becoming Red Mills All-Ireland Pace champion 2025.

Teddy led out, made all in 2.01, with the well-travelled Ciaran Morrison in the sulky. Drinks were ‘on the house’ in McCarthy’s Bar on Monday night, according to reports.

Chelsie O’Driscoll added to the Cork celebrations, as she won the Ladies’ Pace with Ayr Beach, who followed up his win for Ciaran Morrison the previous week.

Recently licensed driver, Tiana Mullan from Castlerobin above Belfast, nearly scored an upset, as she drove Coalford Danceman ‘like she stole him’ and built up a 20-length lead, only to come back to the field. Horse and driver will come on for the run.

There was a feel good story in the Grade E to F pace, where Gui McCullough’s Be In My Shoes regained the decent form she showed last year and posted an ‘every post a winning post’ victory for driver Noel Ryan in 2.04.3. Gui is currently in hospital following a serious road accident. “My dad and my son Samuel are doing the mare. They changed her head gear during the week,” he reported.

Wasn’t Expecting That paced a big mile with owner Neil McDermott at the reins. He was a game second from a parked out trip.

Luke Timlin was another winning driver to lead from the moment the gates went back. Crack A Smile held on grimly to take a Grade E and F pace. Battle Fever (Jonny Cowden) and Rhyds Superfly (Patrick Kane jnr) raced close to each other throughout and attracted the attention of the stewards. The winner was bought three weeks ago by David Curtin.

Smile

Mary Kane certainly cracked a smile after guiding Hot To Trot to beat Charlie Flanagan (Biniou du Beuvron) and her sister Emma (Ilador) in a three-runner ladies’ trot. Racing under her married name of Gilligan, Mary said: “I’m 15 years trying to win a ladies’ race. Hot To Trot never gives up.”

Randalstown’s Jim McAteer has his horses in sparkling form at the moment. The pacer Louis Vutton brought up his second win of the season with Jim’s son Daniel in the bike. They scored in the Grade F pace in a lifetime best of 2.01. As usual, EJ’s Dragoness gave her all for Ryan Hanson, a fast finishing second.

Daniel had his first driving double as he won the closer, a B to D trot with Gemmail. Unfortunately, this little milestone was marred by the fact that the stewards adjudged that the first past the post Extrem Ryld (Adam Corey) had broken his mark, i.e. failed to give the 40 yards trail as per his handicap.

There was a lengthy impasse while this point was discussed, which meant that Gemmail did not get his moment in the winner’s circle.

Thanks are repeated to Connolly’s Red Mills Feeds, who have ‘never been found wanting’ in the sponsorship department.

Drivers’ Standings

October 2nd (Unofficial)

Patrick Kane jnr, Trim 22

Jonny Cowden, Glengormley 18

Jamie Hurley Reenascreena 15

Eoin Murphy, Baltimore 14

Troy McAleer, St Margarets 13

John Richardson, Ballyboughal 12

Oisin Quill Kenmare 9

Noel Ryan, Drumcondra 9

Billy Roche, Cloghran 8

Charlie Flanagan, Oldtown 8

Martin Loughran, Cooley 8

LONDONER Mick Welling, known as ‘The Crafty Cockney’, is one of those successful businessmen, who also try the thankless task of running a harness racing track, without the aid of TV rights money, government contribution or the Tote etc. the list goes on.

Nowadays, he owns York Raceway, the well looked after facility, which is propping up racing in the North of England. Mick is also a successful breeder with his ‘Camden‘ suffix familiar to readers of this column, thanks to the efforts of Benny Camden, Teddy Camden and Larry Camden amongst others.

The track (which also provides a top-class jumping arena) will host the 2024 Standardbred Sale on Saturday, October 12th. In a generous gesture, Mick Welling ensures that all the commission goes to prize money at his venue. A race meeting will take place after the sale.

We asked a few eagle-eyed trotting men to share their thoughts on the 2024 catalogue. All the horsemen contacted felt that Ayrodrome, a Sweet Lou sister to this year’s standout two-year-old Ayroplane would top the sale or go close.

John Smart, Motherwell (owner and bookmaker) also mentioned Lot 13, Oakwood Loucious, a full-brother to last year’s 30k sale topper. Lot 25, Rhyds See Me, a full-sister to Rhyds Superfly.

Lot 37, Make Em Smile, a half-sister to Perfect Smile from the first UK/Irish crop of Newtown Stud’s Bolt the Duer.

Mick Lord of York (nine times winner of English Pacing Derby) liked the pages of Lot 23, a Sweet Lou filly out of Ayr Baroness, and 24, an Always B Miki filly out of JK Majorette, who has four foals that broke 1.52 for the mile.

Gui McCullough of Cloghy, Co Down explained that he prepared Lot 56, a Tom Hill filly from the superb Tonda Star family.

Ayr Standardbreds have four yearlings in total, Oakwood Stud consign six, Coalford Stud have 11 by Henry Hill out of mares five with various types of breeding.

Mick Welling’s Camden Stud have prepared five by Art Professor, Sue Young’s Stateside Stud offer two by resident stallion Tom Hill.

The catalogue contains six broodmares, 64 yearlings, three two-year-olds, and 10 racehorses, giving 83 lots in total.

Irish buyers have traditionally been active at the sale and will be buoyed by this country’s success at the 2024 Vincent Delaney and Breeders’ Crown meetings.