Mares Series returns to Corbiewood

The 2018 running of the series will welcome a new sponsor in Greentree Standardbreds, run by the Clark family based in County Durham, north England, who recently imported the impressive grey stallion Smack Talk to stand his first season at stud in the UK.

Conditions for the series remain largely unaltered, with nominations invited on or before Sunday 3rd June.

Last year's series saw five different mares win the six qualifying legs, with Starzapan (2016 Scottish Horse of the Year) the only mare to win twice. The aggregate winning distances across the six legs and final was only 8 and a half lengths, illustrating the close and competitive finishes throughout the series. It was the Gilvear family's DONTSTOPTHEPARTY (Dreamfair Vogel-Party West-Western Hanover), the winner of the fifth leg, who landed the spoils in a thrilling final with a well-timed run to take up the lead in the closing stages of the race.

In addition, there will be two STAGBI Future Broodmares races staged at Corbiewood in 2018, complimenting a solid programme of races for mares racing in Scotland this year.

"The aim of the Greentree Standardbreds Mares' Pacing Series, in conjunction with the STAGBI Future Broodmares races," said Sarah Thomas, who created the series in 2017. "is to provide the owners and trainers of mares not only in Scotland but in neighbouring regions who race at Corbiewood with the opportunity to keep mares in training longer before considering the option of breeding. 

"These races add real merit to any mare's CV," Thomas explained. "and the grand final for a decent purse rewards connections who defer going down the breeding route for an additional season or two.  It was hoped that these races would be the type that connections really wanted to win and based on the atmosphere on the night of the final last year, this was certainly achieved.  With some of last year's mares already known to be back in training, plus the potential pool of mares who will become eligible this year, the 2018 series should be a really exciting prospect!"

A new drivers' series is currently in the final stages of production and more details of this will follow in due course.

Corbiewood will stage in excess of 20 meetings this year with the season kicking off on Sunday 6th May. Come Harness Racing!!

by Sarah Thomas, for Harnesslink