Harnesslink: Olympic performers

With Toyko 2020 in full swing we look into some of the harness racing horses that have made an impact on the track as well as under the shadow of the Olympic flame.

Gail Devers

In the stadium

Born 1966. An Olympic champion Devers won gold in the 100m at Barcelona in 1992 when beating Juliet Cuthbert, a stumble in her favoured 100m hurdles most probably robbing her of a second gold. Devers made it back-to-back 100m titles in Atlanta in 1996 when she was judged to have mastered Merlene Ottey by the barest of margins (becoming just the second woman to win gold at consecutive Olympic Games) she would add to her gold medal tally by being part of the 4x100m relay when the USA team proved too strong with the Bahamas and Jamaican teams making the trifecta. Devers would compete at the top level of sprinting into her 40’s and compete in five Olympic games.

On the track

Foaled 2001.By Live Or Die out of Awesome Dream. Tracing back through a strong dam-line Gail Devers was a 1/2 sister to Inspiring Dash (mother of both Venus Serena, Rona Lorraine and current prospect Dashing Major) while other siblings include the well named Merlene Ottey and Flo Jo. Trained by David and Catherine Butt Gail Devers fashioned a formidable race record winning 10 of her 19 starts. Three consecutive victories in early 2006 were followed by another run of wins during April of the same year, those she beat on the track included the Yearling Sales Series winner of 2005 in Life Of Luxury, the Robert Dunn trained Luckisaladytonight and the now grand producer in Miss Bubbles. A Group 2 placing behind It’s Ella in the Premier Mares Championship of 2007 most probably represented the height of her racing career.

Career earnings $55’000

As a broodmare Gail Devers left notable performers in Mach Scooter (14 wins, 84’000) and Captain Kirk (10 wins)

Olga Korbut

In the stadium

Born 1955. Nicknamed the “Sparrow from Minsk” and representing the Soviet Union Korbut captured 4 gold and 2 silver Olympic medals across a number of gymnastic disciplines. Her haul at the Munich Olympics of 1972 a stunning 3 gold and 1 silver.  She also excelled at World Championship levels specifically at the Varna Championships of 1974 where 2 gold and 4 silvers were achieved. Known for her “Korbut Flip” on parallel bars. Inaugural inductee into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Resides in the USA.

On the track

Foaled 1972. By Lordship out of Deft.

Trained and driven by Freeman Holmes the mare showed form from an early age with a stellar 2yr-old season of 1975 which saw 5 wins achieved from 15 starts. A series of second placings were broken with her maiden win in the Robin Dundee Stakes of 1975 over Bronze Queen. That win proved the making of her with four consecutive victories soon thereafter. As a three-year-old she won the Haughty Stakes of 1976 over Swift Princess. Career earnings $27’000

As a broodmare Olga Korbut left the Grand-dam of superstar One Dream in Nardia while the family continues to have presence through the John McDermott breed. Both the 5 win mare Twirl and a son of In The Pocket in Tumble are of this line. Canterbury based horseman John Hay has recently qualified a Sportswriter colt out of the wider family, his name being Headliner.

Ben McMillan