Emily giving McIver Family excitement plus!

Central Victorian harness racing owner Danny McIver, OAM has overcome some challenges in his life, but his beloved standardbred horses are bringing him plenty of enjoyment in his later years.

Most recently that’s been five-year-old mare Emily Vincent (Vincent), a pacer McIver and his wife Helen race with their 17-year-old granddaughter Charlotte, who took out the $15,000 Swift Signs Pace at Melton on Saturday night (March 15).

“I’m 77 years of age and in my twilight, but I was jumping up and down so much while we were watching her on the television, I thought I was going to have a heart attack!” McIver, of Carisbrook, said.

“Helen and I are thrilled to pieces. If anyone saw us cheering, they’d think we’re mad. But we are just so blessed to have a nice little horse in ‘Emily’,” he said.

“She isn’t all that big in stature, but she has a very big heart and is tough as nails. She really excites us, and I would say we’ve watched that Melton race replay at least 20 times.”

The pacer settled down two back in the running line, with James Herbertson driving a perfectly judged race, saving Emily Vincent for one final effort in the home straight.

Starting at the generous odds of 20/1, she finished too strongly to defeat Neatntidy (Aaron Dunn) by one metre, with Luva Scrap (Jason Lee/Julie Brimacombe) a neck away third.

Watch the replay here.

Emily Vincent is prepared at Allandale near Ballarat, by Adam Stephens, who races a small team with consistent results.

McIver was quick to praise, saying Stephens ” just has the knack of getting everything out of them”.

“I handled her as a young horse and we didn’t get along all that well – if I tried to pat her, she’d bite me!” he laughed.

“We’re so proud of Adam – he’s just marvellous with horses and ‘Emily’ has really hit her straps under his care,” he said.

McIver, who spent much of his working life in the Army, is a Vietnam veteran, having served there for 12 months as an 18-year-old. He also spent a few years in New Guinea and 21 years in Queensland, including working on logistics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, for which he was awarded an Order of Australia (Military Division).

McIver has lived at Carisbrook for the past 23 years and enjoys harness racing as a hobby, including in recent years with handy mare Gracie Cullen (Alta Christiano), a winner of 15 races ($108K in stakes).

He got involved about 20 years ago when he took over a horse owned by his late brother Barry, called Remember May (Walton Hanover), trained by Julian Jobe.

“I think Remember May won two or three races and then got sold to WA. Later it raced in the US, and she won about 40 races,” he said.

“After I do the early work with them, I send them up to Jason Tyack at Heathcote, and he takes over. Another horseman here locally Paul Watson, who is a pretty good judge, lends me a hand as well.”

Emily Vincent is the first foal out of Wandin Star (Julius Caesar), a winner of one race and six placings from 17 starts.

McIver said the reason they sent the mare to Vincent, who stands at Alabar, was through granddaughter Charlotte, who might just have a good eye for a horse.

“As soon as she saw Vincent, that was it – she just thought he was the most lovely looking horse. And he was so quiet for a stallion,” he said.

“We’ve since gone back to Vincent and have a colt named Vincent Wandin, who has been a bit difficult and twice as head strong as ‘Emily’. The next one is named Rosie Wandin and she’s shaping up okay too.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink