Big day for the Love family today

With harness racing being a big part of their lives, Damian Love decided to remember and honour his Mum and Dad in a special way.

He named two foals after them.

Four-year-old trotter Neil William (Vincent) is in memory of his dad and Sweet Maureen (Sweet Lou), a two-year-old pacing filly, is named after his mum.

“We lost both our parents within three months,” says the Canterbury-based Love, “and I had to name the two foals so I thought it would be fitting.”

Bred by Neil and Damian Love, Neil William will make his debut at Addington today in Race 3, the Hagley Windows and Doors Trot (5.08pm).

Though clearly pacing bred (by Vincent) Neil William had always shown an inclination to trot.

“He never liked the hobbles and Sam Payne broke him in as a trotter,” says Love.

Payne trains and will drive the horse tonight.

“We are really hoping he gets around and trots – he has got plenty of ability and a nice motor,” says Love, “he has trialled well and Sam’s happy with him.”

On the back of two seconds at the trials (Rangiora – October 9 and Ashburton – July 22) Neil William is a $3.40 second favourite.

“We are hoping for the best and he’ll improve a lot over the next 12 months.”

Neil William and Sweet Maureen, who has not raced as yet, are the eighth and ninth foals out of the Loves’ broodmare Lecerne Lil.

She had two wins while trained by Andrew Stuart in 2004. Now retired from breeding, she produced nine foals. The first seven to have been to the races already have all been winners.

The very talented Deny Everything had eight wins including the 2023 Timaru Summer Cup and five in a row between 2019 and 2021 while Lil Miss Muscles had four as a trotter. She’s currently in foal to Tactical Approach.

“They are pretty dual gaited out that mare,” says Love.

“One of the foals (Forgot To Remember) won as a trotter and a pacer while another (Indefinite) won as a pacer and placed as a trotter.”

As well as being a breeder and owner Love has also trained two winners (War George at Banks Peninsula in 2008 and Get It On at Geraldine in 2022) and also had seven race day drives.

Based at Charing Cross, he prepares a small team which he juggles around his job as a printer.

To see the field for Race 3 at Addington tonight click here

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk