THE success story of the link up between the Irish Harness Racing Association and Le TROT of France received another boost recently, when Jonny Cowden (23) from North Belfast became the first Irishman since the immortal Charlie Mills (1888-1972) to win a race at ‘The Temple of Trot’, i.e. Vincennes in Paris.

Le TROT has an international marketing department, to be envied by any breed society or indeed business of any kind, in the world.

The department is headed by Madame Emmanuelle Morvillers. As we speak, the French body is subsidising prize money and organising the export of horses to countries as diverse as America, Spain, Great Britain, Malta and Estonia.

Sources have confirmed that Le TROT have been very impressed by the way that Ireland embraced ‘French Trotting’ and how this country has complied with Le TROT requirements, which are exacting. The first draft of horses under the scheme came to this country in 2014.

Jonny Cowden won Le Prix des Rencontres on November 29th. The race is a ‘homecoming’ type affair for each of the leading drivers of Trotteurs Français from the affiliate countries.

Fan club

Jonny had a nice fan club cheering him on. His father Noel and mum Lynne were in attendance. Ger Kane, Sean Kane, Jeremiah O’Mahony, Patrick and Rachel Kane were also in the ‘City of Light’ as they were collecting awards for Lieutenant Dan and Harry Knows respectively.

If les parieurs who frequent Vincennes had been watching the IHRA replays or The Irish Field for that matter, a Jonny Cowden-driven horse wouldn’t have gone off at 21/1 on the PMU! The rewarding price bought drinks for the Irish party!

As so often at Annaghmore, Jonny let Gassman d’Essa take a lead off another horse. He pulled at exactly the right time and won cosily enough in the end. The race replay can be watched on IHRA Facebook page.

Jonny’s post-race comments show that quite a bit of thought went into the tactics. “I thought he had solid form. The owners were confident. They told me to go forward and to sprint at the end. I knew the number cloths to watch for and I kept close to the French driver, whose horse was fancied.”

Delighted

His father Noel said: “The French officials were delighted, especially as Jonny came up through Le TROT apprentice programme. Lynne and I are delighted, Jonny puts in a lot of work. He was one of the younger drivers in the race, including Doug McNair of Canada.”

Charlie Mills, the son of an Irish vet, was a bon viveur, whose life revolved around huge sports cars, chateaux and wealthy owners. He flitted between Austria, Germany and France in the chaotic years after World War II.

The one constant in his life was that he was usually the leading trainer and driver of trotters wherever he was based. He won the Prix d’Amerique as both a trainer and a driver.

The Prix de Charlie Mills is run in his honour every year.

On a less glamourous front, Sean Kane won the same race when it was held in Spain in 2020. Cork men Chris O’Reilly and Eoin Murphy have also won at l’Hippodrome d’Argentan making Jonny the fourth modern day Irish driver to win in France.

For an IHRA driver to win at France’s flagship track is a major breakthrough.

CHARLIE Flanagan (23) from Ballyboughal also wore the green, white and gold colours with distinction at Ippodromo del Mediterraneo, staged in Sicily last weekend.

Charlie, last year’s leading lady driver in Ireland, was the Irish representative in the 2024 European Apprentice Drivers’ Championship.

The equine physiotherapist finished third overall. Three legs were contested and Charlie drove a second and a third. Her first scheduled drive was ‘scratched sick’, which had a huge bearing on the outcome.

“I was third behind the Italian driver and the German. I was only beaten a point for second place.

“It was a fantastic experience and the event was very professional. They played Amhrán na bhFiann as I was announced, the whole works. It was very exciting. ‘’

JOHN Richardson’s home-bred Shesnoaprilfool became the latest of a growing list of Irish-bred pacers to run up a sequence in the USA. The five-year-old mare is trained by Ballydehob man Robbie Cleary in New York.

The mare won her third race in the US, at Harrah’s Philadelphia, driven by Brett Beckwith last weekend. John races under the Bath Lane Stables registered name, taken from the area near Gardiner Street where the Richardson clan started out.

“Her best time so far is 1.52,” John told The Irish Field. “Her class race for $12,000 with 50% going to the winner.”

Meanwhile, the Co Offaly-bred Oakwood Hey Miki made it four-from-four Stateside, as he won from ‘post 10’ at The Meadowlands on Saturday, December 7th in 1.50.2.

The son of Always B Miki is also trained by Robbie Cleary, who is building some reputation. Observers think he will break the 1.50 mark from a good draw.