Veteran pacer retired

Thirteen year old veteran of 290 starts Franco Huntington (Changeover) has run his last race.

“I just felt that he was starting to ease off a bit and I didn’t want to disgrace him at any time. He’s done a tremendous job for us and he doesn’t owe us anything,” said trainer Doug McLaughan after Franco Huntington’s ninth placing at Gore yesterday.

Bred by Spreydon Lodge, he began his career with Steven McRae who took him to a number of workouts and qualified him at Rangiora in February 2015 before he was sent south to be trained by Otama trainer Robin Swain. He had his first twenty three starts for Swain, winning once.

He joined McLachlan’s Myross Bush stable in 2017 after he was purchased by stable clients for just $2,000.00.

McLachlan took over the ownership in March 2018 and at Winton in November of 2023 Franco Huntington gave McLachlan his 200^th win.

From 290 starts he won seventeen races, was placed second twenty eight times and third thirty three times, banking $185,978.

“He won’t be going out into the paddock. He’ll be boxed and hard fed.”

Franco Huntington last won in October 2024 at Ascot Park. John Morrison drove him for nine of his wins, Shane Walkinshaw two and Sam Ottley, Mark Hurrell, Nathan Williamson, Max Hill, Andrew Suddaby and Robin Swain each won once on the gelding.

Invercargill was his favourite winning track. He won eight races there, as well as four at Wyndham and Winton, and one at Gore.

In the short term Franco Huntington is expected to remain at the stable.

“That’s my intention at the moment unless I find a real good home for him. Sally McKay may take him as a Clerk of the Course horse.”

He said the gelding won’t take kindly to staying at home when the float heads off to the races.

“He’ll drive me mad. He’ll probably end up going out for a trip. He likes being around and at the races.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink