Racetime Raceway opens 2023 race meet

Racetime Raceway are set to launch their fourth season of harness racing this coming Saturday (July 1) afternoon on the crest of a wave having announced a record number of new owners and trainers licenced, an increased number of additional horses to boost field sizes and more importantly a raft of new sponsors on board in a big push to take the sport to the next level in Northern Ireland.

Running under a manifesto of providing sport for the “working man” with all purses paid out in full after racing on the day, Northern Ireland Standardbred Association (NISA) have traditionally shied away from big money stakes races where the prizemoney pot is often made up of 95%+ stakes payments (meaning that in most cases horse owners are effectively running for their own money) citing this as a false economy for hard-pressed owners who just want to compete and have a family day out, similar to the county fair style meets held in the USA.

Saturday’s program kicks off with a conditional pace for maiden and novice grades and all eyes will be on newcomer Brynllo Caio and although this horse name looks like it’s a typo, its actually the use of Welsh language roughly translated as “Calf Hill Caio” the latter part being a popular boys Christian name in the region.

Being transported all the way up from Schull in Country Cork, which is a 12 hour round trip covering over 1000km this must be taken as a clear statement of intent that owner/trainer/driver Micheal Goggin means business so you can be sure that Brynllo Caio is ready to fire on all cylinders. The main dangers to the selection in this event are likely to come from Rock Me Mama, Elusive Ellen and Despicable Me with the former looking the most potent threat with Mark Rea engaged to doing the steering.

Next up is the class 000/Grade 1 contest with 3 newcomers to Racetime in the line-up. Just Look At Me and Betty M have done most of their racing in Scotland and both are multiple winners boasting impressive race records.

Fermanagh’s Johnny Burns has been in the sport for almost 2 decades and having had many solidly performing pacers come through his hands down through the years, arguably the best horse he has ever campaigned is his current stable star Meadowbranch Roman. Work-watchers have been raving about how this horse has been going in pre-season workouts at the track and he’s likely to start a warm order favourite on Saturday.

All 3 newcomers however will have to produce personal bests to defeat the classy True Matters who proved his versatility and consistency right through the 2022 season. Greg Dean’s charge won’t go down without a fight and trained on the track itself he will prove a tough nut to crack with what should be a home advantage.

The third race has yet more fresh UK imports in the shape of Hilltop Sunstar and GD’s Blizzard with the latter expected start and odds-on favourite in this. Owned, trained and to be driven by Colin McTaggart, the gelding has been impressive in qualifiers and provided he gets a slice of luck he is the one to beat in this ultra-competitive contest.

Lucky Cam may be the oldest horse in the line-up, but he has proven over the years that he knows where the winning line is and he always puts in a good shift when starting car pulls away. Jollys Alibi is another that can’t be discounted but previous seasons have shown that he needs a run or two in order to get him fully firing.

The penultimate event sees some of the highest graded pacers in Ireland in action and all runners in this have earned their stripes the hard way. John Barley, by current world record holder Doonbeg the Michael Goggin owned pacer is an ex- track record holder at the venue and although he generally starts slow, he is always there at the finish whenever he competes.

Monugs Boy has never broke a track record in his career, but he seems to have a “time-share” in the winner’s enclosure at the venue and can never be discounted in any race he participates in. Another who is guaranteed to make his presence felt is former NISA Horse Of The Year award winner Porterstown Courage who has the back class to blitz this field – if he is fully wound up on his seasonal debut. All in all, this is an intriguing contest where race fitness will be a key factor in determining the winner and every runner has a live chance of landing the spoils.

The day finishes with a Consolation Pace, which gives a second bite at the cherry for all non-winners on the day and is limited to six entries. Action Starts at Racetime 3:00 pm. Admission Fee for adults is £10 and Under 16 years old are admitted free.

From the Northern Ireland Standardbred Association