Folklore retired from racing

Iain Wilson fair beams with pride when discussing his mighty harness racing mare Folklore (Sportswriter).

“She’s exceptional,” he says, “and she has given us a great ride.”

But now after 13 wins from 78 starts and $185,355, the Sportswriter seven-year-old has been retired from racing, and will soon be heading to the breeding barn.

“She’s the best I’ve had,” says the Winton-based Wilson, who owns Folklore along with his wife Nola, “and we’ve had a great run with her.”

Her last race was a seventh in Auckland on May 26. Folklore’s trademark was her speed, especially when saved for one run – “she was electric”.

The Wilsons acquired Folklore five years ago.

“We bought her as an unbroken two-year-old in the paddock and we knew that if she didn’t make it on the track that we would have a well bred broodmare,” says Wilson, “and I liked her name and the fact she was out of Turkana.”

Turkana (Christian Cullen – Kisumu) was a six race winner in her own right. Bred by Brian West at Studholme Bloodstock , Folklore was her eighth and most successful foal.

Folklore had just three starts with one placing as a three-year-old with her busiest and most successful season being her five-year-old season in 2021 when she had five wins in 37 starts.

“As a three-year-old she was too big, she was a tall mare who lightened up with racing,” says Wilson.

Of her 13 wins – from Alexandra Park in the north to Ascot Park in the deep south – Wilson rates the Group 2 Premier Mares Championship at Addington on January 27 this year as the best.

“Folklore showed her true worth that night, we were very excited after the win,” Wilson said.

Paying $44 for the win, Folklore dealt to a field that included the likes of Manhattan and Allamericanlover, by more than six lengths.

Folklore’s trainer Jonny Cox drove the mare in the vast majority of her starts. There’s a close connection between the two families, Jonny Cox’s mother Dorothy is Nola Wilson’s sister.

“Jonny and (partner) Kim (Butt) have been amazing with the horse, they have treated her like a pet.”

Folklore will be a hard act to follow and after getting some much earned down time she will start her new life as a broodmare.

Wilson is not giving much away as to his stallion of choice, except to say he has consulted West among other people and he has a shortlist.

“She’s earned the right to go to the best.”

by Dave Di Somma, for HRNZ