THE excellent 2023 harness racing season came to a conclusion last Sunday at Annaghmore Raceway. John Richardson eventually won the leading driver championship although he drove five beaten horses before winning a match with Cash All to reclaim The Irish Field silver salver.

“I don’t set out to win leading driver,” said John. “For sure when I was younger, I was more aware of it, but these days if it happens, it happens. I was delighted that Brendan Murdock made the presentation. I admired his horsemanship as I was growing up.”

Richardson went on, “Jonny (Cowden) had a terrific season – he is very ambitious and he will have chances again.”

Over in Malta, the pride of North Belfast was doing this country proud as Jonny Cowden was beaten by a single point in the UET (Union Europeen de Trot) Apprentice Championships (see accompanying article).)

The Irish Harness Racing Association deserve great credit for keeping the sport going in 2024 following the loss of Portmarnock Raceway which is soon to be a Memorial Park for the Fingal region. Negotiations continue for a venue in Dublin once more, but as usual there are complicating factors.

JOHN Richardson won yet another leading driver award and his fifth since The Irish Field kindly sponsored the accolade.

The 57-year-old who races in similar colours to the great American Del Miller was made to work for it by the young ‘upstart’ Jonny Cowden who was one ahead going into Sunday’s fixture.

John drove a second, two thirds and a fourth including an upset where the respected Shesnoaprilfool was overturned at 4/6.

The Cowdens will have been watching the Annaghmore results from Malta and their hopes were dashed when Cash All ran out the easy winner of race eight over his sole rival The Lion King (Ricky Hanson).

As if to prove a point JR came out and won the next and final race, an eight-runner affair where John had to come out of the ‘5-hole’. The aptly-named Good Wine du Layon (evens) picked up €2,400 for UK-based owner Allan Davies. Allan was born in Tregaron (Wales) but has lived In Wolverhampton for 35 years.

“The former owner in France befriended me on Facebook,” said John. “and said he was a horse that stressed out a lot. We have been treating him heavily for ulcers and it seems to be working.” Del Miller didn’t have the benefit of social media when he bought a horse.

Several races on the card were sponsored by Connolly’s Red Mills, one of the first companies to take harness racing seriously, and thanks go to the Goresbridge business.

Sponsorship

Another positive development was sponsorship via National Breeding Services/Horse Sport Ireland/Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

This particular sponsorship was only confirmed late in the week preceding the meeting. Unfortunately, some of the top horses had already quit for the season. Hopefully now that this source has been opened, the sponsorship can be better planned in future.

Nevertheless, the four ‘Horse Sport Ireland’ heats served up cracking sport. Apparently Meadowbranch Stud of Ballyboughal won Leading Trainer 2023 as well (it was not announced). However, they had no luck in the ‘Future Broodmares Pace’ as VDM heroine Shesnoaprilfool had no answer to a cheeky drive by Patrick Kane jnr on IB Lily.

IB Lily’s win was a nice reward for part owner Bill Donovan of Florida who has pumped a huge amount into helping Irish harness racing. May your giving hand never cease, a chara.

Joint owners, Murphy brothers of Baltimore will look forward to 2024 with this lovely prospect. 2.01.4 is a big mile in October in Ireland.

There are a lovely selection of potential trotting broodmares in the country at the moment. Inspire Me, raised In Cork, won the Grade F race for driver Martin Loughran and owners Healy and O’Farrell. Ronan Norton is the trainer so the win was an Omeath, Cork and Longford co-operation.

Joe Caffrey’s Finale Jihaime showed a lovely turn-of-foot to win the C to F division. Kerry raider Feerie des Brouets justified market support in the top grade HIS race. Usual coachman Oisin Quill was in the bike. The time of 3.10.6 was the fastest mile and a half of the day.

HSI banners

Some €7,500 in added money came from Horse Sport Ireland. HSI banners were placed prominently at the track. The recognition from HSI is well deserved by this sport, so often overlooked.

Keith McCullough’s Gamin Marindais gave the ‘Cooley Magician’, Martin Loughran, a double on the day.

The strong-looking winner was well supported on a day where the backers beat the old enemy.

The irrepressible Galways from West Belfast finished 2023 on a high as Long Island Art (7/2) burst out of the pack to win a hot-looking Grade F pace. Comber farrier North Lucas gave him a great drive. North is a son of Phil ‘Magneto Star’ Lucas, a prolific winner back in the day.

Another Co Down runner, Darren Smith’s Daisy Camden took out the opener and broke Darren’s driving duck under IHRA rules. The mare has been consistent all year.

Halloween costumes

Mary Gilligan marshalled two pony races of three runners. The involvement of children is vitally important. Halloween costumes were much in evidence. Ghosts, fairies were on show and even an adult cowboy who missed the break and had to run a half a lap to catch up!

A nice ripple of applause went round the crowd as James Griffin announced Jonny Cowden’s strong showing in Malta.

As ever, a big vote of gratitude to the stewards, starting car crew, receiver of entries, land owner and litter pickers who allow the action to happen.

Two constructive points: All horses need to wear a number cloth along both sides of their body and some resources should be made available to publicise and congratulate horse of the year, mare of the year, two-year-old of the year etc.

FINAL STANDINGS NATIONAL LEADING DRIVER 2023

Driver Wins

John Richardson, Ballyboughal 25

Jonny Cowden, Glengormley 24

Patrick Kane junior, Trim 15

Oisin Quill, Kenmare 15

Troy Mc Aleer, St Margarets 14

Billy Roche, Cloghran 14

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 14

NORTH Belfast has a new star to sit alongside the boxer Carl Frampton and the flautist James Galway!

Admittedly harness racing is small beer compared to the global acclaim that these celebrities garnered but Jonny Cowden represented his home city with equal style in last week’s European Apprentice Championship.

You might feel sorry for Jonny, second by the narrowest margin in both the Irish overall title and the European Apprentice contest. The truth is quite the reverse. The 23-year-old exercise rider in the Crawford, Larne thoroughbred yard is actually upbeat.

“At home I had some year numerically. I was delighted to still be in contention with a week to go. Big thanks to all the owners who used me. I’ll just have to try harder next year.”

Of his trip to the trotting-mad island he said: “Of course, I would love to have won but the nice comments from the officials and from other countries made it worthwhile.”

“The hospitality was great and the usual drivers of the horses went out of their way to say how they needed to be driven.”

In the opening race, Jonny had the dreaded ‘D’ for disqualification (due to a gallop) which earned him the Eurovision ‘nil points’.

However, he bounced back to win the next two races with Immaneul de Mongochy (€11.40 for a €2.00 win) and Heros de Claivance (6/4 in Annaghmore language).

“Unusually for a European country, they race for even smaller money than Ireland. However, the big 1,000 metre track would put ours to shame.”

The UET Apprentice Championship went to the local man Jean Claude Pace of Malta, with Jonny second and Jonas Steiner of Austria in third.

With reference to John Richardson pipping him in the Irish title Jonny was sporting in defeat. “John is still the best.” Could JR be living on borrowed time as cock o’ the walk?