Rain does not dampen spirits at Racetime

Racetime Raceway, Ireland’s premier harness racing venue in Belfast, staged its second meeting of 2022 on June 11 with an abundance of additional new horses and new drivers the order of the day.

The weather wasn’t very kind to participants or punters with most races run in torrential rain but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for those who turned up to either compete or spectate or bet the fancies.

Six pacers went to post in the opener for Maidens & Novices with newcomer Pan Cam Mystery a notable non-runner. Wotshappinin who finished second on debut went one place better this time around and landed the spoils for owner-trainer-driver Cathal Donnelly in a respectable time of 2:05.8.

The favourite Alpha Papa stayed on well for second spot ahead of Let There Be Rock who finished an eye-catching third. The other co-favourite McArts Fort had no luck in running and this performance was best forgotten about.

Highbrooks Ideal and new driver Dee Magee was welcomed to the Racetime ranks in next contest on the program for G1/G2 pacers but the six-year-old gelding by Check On Jack didn’t feature in the event which was won by Greg Deans Lucky Cam in the fastest mile time of the meeting 2:04.8. The fast-finishing Rio Bravo finished runner-up in this ahead of the winners stablemate Monugs Boy and Sunnyside Clinton.

Tarawood CJ was all the rage in the betting before the off in the G3/G6 Handicap Pace but Mickey Connors charge could only finish third in this, beaten by North Lucas’s Phils Dragon and Michael Goggin’s John Barley. The winning time was 2:05.1 and the distances were 2 lengths and another 3 lengths. The successful Phils Dragon was a prolific winner at Racetime last season but didn’t exactly cover himself in glory on seasonal debut last time so it was good to see him firmly back on track and he remains one of the brightest young pacing talents on the scene.

His half-sister Blackwell Ruby now plies her trade stateside having been exported in 2020 and its very conceivable that he could join her in the coming months if this rate of improvement continues from the colt.

The penultimate contest for all-aged square trotters was competed over the extended mile and a quarter trip and this was won by Sam Crothers aboard his own Hurricane Star.

This French bred five-year-old is really coming into himself this season and is now unbeaten in a brace of starts. The time was 2:49.9 and the winning margin of ten lengths didn’t accurately demonstrate the ease of how he dominated this field of trotters.

Bocage De Fornet secured second place in this beating Diablesse Jisce who broke badly but both will need to improve drastically if they are to prevent Hurricane Star making it a hat-trick when they next all clash.

The afternoons action culminated in a “Consolation” pace where all non-winners on the day were given a second bite of the cherry to claim a red rosette and some prizemoney.

Conditions had deteriorated somewhat by this stage hence the slow winning time of 2:11.3 but as victorious driver Paul Telford will testify – they all count as his Ballycoan Major went on to score ahead of Tarawood CJ and Highbrooks Ideal.

Next meeting at Racetime is 25th June and all are welcome to attend or compete. Please check out the NI Standardbred Asscoiation (NISA) Facebook page for further details.

From the NISA