THE harness racing season reaches a climax in the Cork region with the staging of the 2024 Red John Memorial Weekend today, Saturday, 24th, and tomorrow, Sunday, 25th, at Lyre.

The weekend honours the late “Red” John O’Donovan from Leap who lost his life in a farmyard accident in January 2015. John was a staunch member of the trotting community as a participant and was on the executive of the governing body at the time of his passing. The festival has grown from humble beginnings as a one-day meeting in Manch to become the biggest grass harness racing festival in Ireland.

This year marks the 10th renewal of the meeting and by now the traditional venue of Ger Heggarty’s farm at Lyre compliments this great event.

At the time of going to press, 126 entries from all corners of Ireland and a few from the UK will compete over the two days for prize money in excess of €85,000.

Main events

The main events of the weekend are the Red John Memorial Handicap Pace and The Maven Handicap Trot. The Maven Trot is sponsored by Bill Donovan from Florida who has West Cork roots and has forged a partnership with the Murphy brothers from Inihs Beg in Baltimore.

Other feature events over the two days include The Liam Carlin Memorial Free For All Trot which will see eight of the best imported French trotters go to battle. The Red John Memorial Free For All Pace will see the highest graded pacers in Ireland in action.

Breeding of pacers has become big business and there will be keen competition for two-year-old, three-year-old and four-year-old Grass Pacing Championships.

‘On the trot’, there will be a leg of the three-year-old series for Trotteurs Français bred in this country.

The card has not been graded at time of writing however these are pointers:

Always Be Puffin ran well in defeat at Wolverhampton.

Ayr Corleone should win the four-year-olds on his best form.

Celui La Laye skipped his engagement at Annaghmore on the 18th which could be a sign.

Holloway Road loves the slight climb at the venue and if they go hard up front he will mop them up.

Lieutenant Dan looks a moral certainty in the three-year-old ‘Frenchies’.

Wasntexpectingthat is a grass specialist and will be expected.