“IT’S either a feast or a famine,” could apply to the early season harness racing at Annaghmore. Following four weeks of scarcely being able to make a decent card, the living and the dead appeared at the Armagh venue for the Irish American weekend.

Just over €50,000 in purses was up for grabs, bolstered by help from Bill Donovan, Eric Cherry and Casie Coleman, all based in the USA.

The star performance of the weekend was by the rejuvenated Benny Camden (4/6 favourite) and his 18-year-old driver Leah McNevin. They ran away from the decent Shesnoaprilfool in a clock of 1.58.9. Benny Camden, now 10, has been with some of the best hands in the business since he was two and it is a credit to the McNevins to have him on song.

Their three-year-old Born In Isolation is also flying at the moment and father Wayne was in the sulky for a never-headed victory in the three-year-old championship. The pair took the scalps of Meadowbranch Adios (John Richardson) and Oakwood Mick (Gavin Murdock).

“Myself and Leah are up at 6am to train the horses before work,” said Wayne, “she gets on well with Benny Camden. Ryan Cattigan from Scotland sold us ‘Born’ and he has been lucky so far.”

Big race specialist

The featured Irish American Trot went to big race specialist Martin Loughran from Omeath. Martin owns the winner Hope De Guinnette, a determined looking chesnut with track landlord Clive Richardson.

“He can be tricky at home, but he knows what to do when he is at the track,” said The Cooley Magician. The seven-year-old won his heat without turning a hair on the Saturday.

The top-grade pace saw Charlie Flanagan upstage her mentor John Richardson as she drove Cash All to beat J.R. who stayed with the UK-owned Lakeside Paddy. Rhyds Rival (Billy Roche) arrived on the scene late for the second money.

Another young driver in hot form was Troy McAleer from Saint Margaret’s. The 19-year-old mechanic landed a hefty touch for connections when the long-striding mare Fiesta Tejy sluiced up in her heat on Saturday.

Larry Camden won the grade E pace with similar nonchalance, much to the chagrin of the bookies, who had the worst of the battle over the two-day meeting.

Jonny Cowden is the early leader in The Irish Field champion driver award for 2024. The Glengormley-based reinsman registered a treble on day one thanks to Neville Martin’s exciting three-year-old filly Sweet Dreams, Joe Sheridan’s veteran trotter Boyardo and his father Noel’s Celui De Laye.

“Boyardo is as tough as they come. Sweet Dreams could be anything. Our own horse Celui De Laye was probably the class horse of his race,” was Jonny’s summary of a good day at the office.

Patrick Kane jnr is always a player in the leading drivers’ standings. Although still tired from the luckless foray to Sweden, Patrick still hit the target with Meadowbranch Teddy and Anglesey Hall on opening day and the much-vaunted Ayr Corleone (1/2 best) on day two.

“The two geldings were nice three-year-olds and it’s great to get off the mark for the year with them,” said Patrick on the day.

Bit of respite

Calvin Broughan brought a rare bit of respite to the layers when he overturned MB King Louis and Porterstown Roman for the grade F pace.

His conveyance was Clive Kavanagh’s The Professor (6/1) who has snippets of form in England and Ireland. Calvin produced the little son of Arts Professor at exactly the right moment for his first ever win with a pacer.

Perennial champion driver John Richardson has been quiet in the early season. Rugadh Me Reidh gave J.R. an overdue first win of 2024, and even then, John was low key in his comments, “She has been a bit flat in a couple of qualifiers. The mare had a medical issue and I think I’ll just let her race herself fit.” The 2.01.9, given that Rugadh Me Reidh is under cooked is a nice start.

Feerie Des Brouets (1/2 favourite) is one of the most exciting French Trotters to come in for some time. The busy little gelding is always on the bridle and he rewarded the Quills from Kenmare for their long trek from the Kingdom.

He beat Ecrin De Grimault (Noel Ryan for John Morgan) in the free-for-all trot of €7,000. Tipperary-based farrier Oisin Quill was in the bike.

IHRA chairman Mark Flanagan hosted a trade mission from the Department of Agriculture of Maryland, USA, on day one of the Irish American weekend.

The Secretary of said department was in attendance. Harness racing in Maryland employs 3,600 people and is a $278 million industry. The state is home to two major harness racing ‘plants’ (the US term) Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs. Twenty-four stallions stand in the state including at leading harness stud Winbak Farms.

No doubt Mark and George McCullough of the IHRA were angling for partnership opportunities. For example, could the like of Leah McNevin and Troy McAleer hone their skills with a US placement?

On the thoroughbred front, the Maryland Dept of Agriculture has a lot of influence at Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes. The track is soon to undergo a massive investment.

Dunmanway Monday

THE weather gods shone bright on Dunmanway for the Bank Holiday Monday meeting. Patrick Hill set the standard with a win for the Hillside Farms homebred Holloway Road in the top-grade trot.

Hill had two in the race but he chose to steer Holloway Road. Stable companion Humour De Cosse set the early fractions but Hill eventually produced Holloway Road and went on to win cosily.

“He’s all class and despite little breaks at times he can mix it with the best. We hold no fear for the summer,” Patrick sent out a confident message after racing.

The top-grade pace produced the best finish of the day. Most definitely the handicapper got it right here.

IB Felicity was drawn number one and Robbie Maguire made the most of his head start. The trailers came chasing on the last lap but time ran out and IB Felicity held on by a short-head from Biggins.

Made all

Racing opened with a win for the Co Meath-based Seeinisbelievin who made all to win for Paul Kelly.

Irish Good Dream put in a flawless round of trotting to land the grade F trot for driver Niall Forbes. Out early, front-running tactics proved completely effective. Hippie Sisu ran on for second but the winner was not for catching.

The old adage that age is only a number shone through in the grade E and F pace. Rhyds Panache has as many miles on the clock as a grey Fergie but the 15 years young son of Bouncie is a game as ever. Fionn O’Reilly gave him a top-drawer drive dictating matters up front and ran out an easy winner.

The Quills from Kenmare rarely leave the Rebel County without a winner and stalwart Destin De Larre ensured the Kerry boys took a rosette across the border.

Action resumed last night in Dunmanway and will continue at Annaghmore tomorrow.

Racecards, results and all relevant information can be found at www.irishharnessracing.com