Harness Racing - introducing Ace

[Crosshill Pacers]

I'm back again!!

After the semi-successful 2015 season, Star was retired to the field (breeding plans on hold due to uncertainty of racing future in Scotland) so I spoke very nicely to OH about what I was going to train this summer. He has Stevie (Young Stephen) back in work again following an operation for an abcess which developed whilst he was being trained in Wales last autumn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBXfX3FbdDQ - it's quite long and it's pretty gross, but it was a good example according to the vet who carried out the procedure, and who invited half of South Lanarkshire's vets to attend to view!). His dad has a 5yo gelding called Cassius Clay in training, a half-brother to Eternal Flame who I may have mentioned in my posts from 2014 when I was racing Missile. He raced a handful of times as a 2yo, had a virus and missed the main window of stakes races, was trained down as a 3yo but was very gangly and is now in and standing a solid 16.1hh. Possibly the biggest horse OH's dad has ever trained! He likes his horses smaller...

So we have Eternal Flame and Wild Bill Hikock standing in the field doing nothing, both very competitive and also 'seasoned' horses, but as they are OH's dad's horses he will want to train them himself next year. OH hasn't ruled out the option of me buying a horse cheap, like with Missile, giving it a go and then bringing it on under saddle and selling on once the season is over (only problem being people are being rather unrealistic about the value of their horses when I ask how much they want for them). So I fluttered my not-very-long eyelashes, threatened a hiatus on proper cooked dinners and agreed to us getting the greyhound he's always wanted, and lo and behold he says I can train our homebred 2yo Crosshill Ace, for the season.

She's the first foal we bred under our joint breeding programme, came into the country in utero from America in December 2013 and is the spitting image of Star at every stage in her development so far, as well as the same temperament. We broke her in at the back end of last year, left her off over Christmas and sent her away to be trained by a friend at Corbiewood at the beginning of February before we went to America on holiday. Both our work commitments are keeping us busy but she is due to come home towards the end of April as she is doing everything perfectly and, as the trainer says, 'like a seasoned campaigner'.

Faster work will begin once she comes home and she will gradually work down the clock to a qualifying time. She is due to race from July through to September, with I think no more than 8 starts. She is entered in all of the applicable stakes races which, provided she's good enough, will take her to Wales and Ireland, as well as racing in Scotland (the hard track in England isn't open for racing this year otherwise she'd probably be there as well).

Here are some photos of her from my visit to Corbiewood two weekends ago:

http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/ShesSomeDeal/media/Ace 3_zpsybjkqtcs.jpg.html?sort=2&o=6

http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/ShesSomeDeal/media/Ace 4_zpsfhwwst5m.jpg.html?sort=2&o=2

http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/ShesSomeDeal/media/Ace 5_zpsjby0sx0l.jpg.html?sort=2&o=5

http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/ShesSomeDeal/media/Ace 6_zpsqvewqhn7.jpg.html?sort=2&o=3

http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/ShesSomeDeal/media/Ace 7_zpsubtb1j8u.jpg.html?sort=2&o=4

Pacing free-legged having never gone faster than a walk in hopples (we long-rein them in hopples to get them used to the feel of them on their legs), so to all the nay-sayers who would have me struck down as forcing my horses to pace, there's the evidence to the contrary. All big ears like Star, massive appetite like Star, always trying her best with minimal fuss like Star...I just love her.

Here begins an exciting, and hopefully successful, journey with the best-bred horse I've ever had the pleasure of working with in all my years in racing!

Sarah & Ace

 

[Lanky Loll]

Wow would have thought her older than a 2yo if you hadn't said, proper strong looking mare - fab
Best of luck with her for the season. I take it from your opening para that racing at Corbiewood is still under threat?

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

She was a St Patrick's Day baby so an early foal which has helped, but yes she's definitely well forward. We didn't push her as she wasn't going to the sales so she's got there pretty much by herself.

We have Corbiewood for this year, 2017 is most definitely uncertain. If I bred Star I wouldn't have a foal until 2017, I wouldn't be looking to race it until probably 2020. York is closed, if Corbiewood closes we're going to have to seriously look at moving south because Tir Prince becomes the central point plus John's work really needs him to be more centrally-based in the country. If we move, we will probably need to look at who comes with us and who gets sold (not something I'm emotionally ready to comprehend at the moment).

 

[Lanky Loll]

She was a St Patrick's Day baby so an early foal which has helped, but yes she's definitely well forward. We didn't push her as she wasn't going to the sales so she's got there pretty much by herself.

We have Corbiewood for this year, 2017 is most definitely uncertain. If I bred Star I wouldn't have a foal until 2017, I wouldn't be looking to race it until probably 2020. York is closed, if Corbiewood closes we're going to have to seriously look at moving south because Tir Prince becomes the central point plus John's work really needs him to be more centrally-based in the country. If we move, we will probably need to look at who comes with us and who gets sold (not something I'm emotionally ready to comprehend at the moment).

That's really sad to hear for the sport, it was something that was talked of when we were still involved and I'd hoped it had been solved IYSWIM. Are none of the "proper" racecourses open to approach? I know we've struggled to get access to some of them down south but with the closure looming I would have thought the urgency might have prompted some proactive going out and finding alternatives from the local BHRC reps?? If they're not careful there will be little point in it being the BHRC, might as well just be the WelshHRC!!

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

Dunstal Park (Wolverhampton) are staging a 2 day meeting this year (June 4th/5th), there is supposed to be a meeting on Newcastle A/W in September and Musselburgh has 2 days at the end of June. I'm working with a few people to get plans together for a new track in Durham but that's pie in the sky stuff at the moment.

I stood for Regional Steward for Scotland as the post was vacant and with my legal background I thought I would be a good advocate for the licence holders...my application was thrown out by the BHRC; the other applicant wasn't even informed that they had appointed internally a man who is also the sole BHRC Steward for Scotland as well. The politics of the sport is at its worst and if it wasn't for the love of racing and my love of Standardbreds, I think I would throw in the towel!

 

[Lanky Loll]

Hmmm doesn't sound like they're doing themselves ANY favours the politics at a regional level was always bad enough but that sounds ridiculous!
Good to hear about the "on track" racing though. I thought the meeting we had at Hereford racecourse a few years back was brilliant - not least because of the fantastic facilities - and even though driver hit the deck in one race!
Such a shame that they can't sort out all the internal politics - it's always going to be something to be overcome to get buy in from mainstream courses and the public who are so desperately needed to come and support it.

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

Such a shame that they can't sort out all the internal politics - it's always going to be something to be overcome to get buy in from mainstream courses and the public who are so desperately needed to come and support it.

You said it. I still firmly believe we have a great product to sell. I was out in Florida 6 weeks ago at Pompano Park and South Florida Training Centre and it couldn't be more different yet at the same time when you strip it all back, the heart of what they do in America is the same as what we do. Mind you, we actually get better weekly crowds at Corbiewood than they do at Pompano which is madness...

I'm going to see Ace on Sunday, she's maybe a couple of weeks from coming home. We're also going to visit Missile at his livery yard as it's nearby. His owners sent me photos last week of him JUMPING. My grumpy old moose, jumping and being this wonderful gentleman for his 18 year old owner who dotes on him as if he was giant teddy bear. What a con artist.

 

[Lanky Loll]

It's fantastic viewing and doesn't take too much for people to understand - what's not to like!

As for the horses - they are SUCH con artists always fab to see them going on to do well in their new jobs, I was gutted not to be able to keep our last mare but she just didn't grow big enough she has a lovely life now doing some pleasure driving (new owner loves her turn of foot when asked), fun rides and generally ruling the roost with her new owners.