Track records set at Racetime Raceway

BELFAST, IE – The harness racing track records for both the mile pace and the mile trot fell at Racetime Raceway Saturday (Sept. 4) with Peter Lyttles Rio Bravo and Finbarr Brickleys Socrates Du Noyer going into the Northern Irish history books.

Going to post the joint favourite alongside John Barley on the bookmakers boards, Rio Bravo was content to sit behind early leader Sunnyside Clinton who had set a blistering pace at the off in the days feature event, the Grade 2/3/5 handicap.

Driver of Rio Bravo Peter Lyttle waited until John Milligan aboard Sunnyside Clinton sent out distress signals at the 3/4 pole before producing his charge and the response was instant. She quickly shot three lengths clear and despite a late surge from Michael Goggin with John Barley, Rio Bravo had enough in hand to repel the West Cork raider.

The time was 1:59.4 and the manner of victory suggested that there was a bit left in the locker too. Lucky Cam was third with the gallant pacemaker Sunnyside Clinton only fourth with distances two lengths and another length respectively.

Peters three daughters, Rebecca, Jessica and Melissa welcomed the victorious Rio Bravo back into the winners enclosure accompanied by longtime friend Gerry Hawkins for the obligatory winners pic. The vanquished John Barley lost out in more ways than one as he was the previous holder of the record having paced 1:59.8 back in June at the venue.

Rio Bravo is out of the immortal Klondyke Girl and who was BHRC Mare Of The Year and her first foal Blazing Bad Zulu achieved the ITHRF Mare Of The Year award in 2014.

With Rio Bravo now the hot favourite to be the NISA Mare Of The Year 2021, it will result in a likely hat-trick of titles for the Klondyke dynasty that original hails back from the Menzies family in the Scottish Highlands.

To cap off a great day for the Lyttle family Let There Be Rock won the qualifier that preceded the days racing with his breeding by Kikicolt out of Lets Get It On and this looks like a winner in waiting when it finally makes its official debut under rules in the coming weeks.

A second record fell on the day when Finbarr Brickleys Socrates Du Noyer lowered the mile record for trotters that was previously held by arch rival Bocage De Fornet, who clocked 2:06.5 in August 2020.

These pair of trotting titans have slugged it out all season with the current standings 4 wins for Scorates compared to 3 wins for Bocage. This time around it was Socrates who again got the better of Bocage with Finbarrs son Ciaran doing the steering in 2:05.9. The margins of victory were four lengths with another ten lengths going back to the third placed Evan Jive .

Hugh Friel unveiled a potential new star when Rock Show made a winning debut in the afternoons Grade 1 contest.

Dubbed the “Donegal Demon” in a cheeky homage to the Green Hornet, the Purple Jesus and the Minister For Speed who ply their trade as famous drivers Stateside, Friel had sent Rock Show into commanding lead and as the race progressed he just went further and further clear.

Tripping the timer in 2:00.6 with none of his five rivals able to land a blow. Oakwood Maverick finished eight lengths adrift in second with Camden Pro a further four lengths in arrears back in third spot. Rock Show, a 7 year old by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Rock Show is a US import and faces a bright future on the harness racing scene in Northern Ireland if this very impressive Racetime debut is anything to go by.

Another with a big future is William McClelland’s McIlroy who won the Maidens Pace by an equally large margin.

Geronimo, the pinto pacer, tried to take on favourite Despicable Me when the starting car pulled away in this event, but the pressure going into the first turn resulted in mistakes by both pacers. This resulted in McIIroy being gifted an easy lead, one that he stubbornly refused to relinquish as the race reached its climax.

Hitting the wire in 2:01.9, a stellar time for the grade, McIlroy had a full ten lengths to spare over Geronimo who in turn finished a length ahead of the disappointing favourite Despicable Me. McIlroy is by Jimmy Long out of Tell Me Ma hailing back to the Patterson family’s foundation broodmare, Armbro Lobell (making her a half-sister to this seasons multiple winner Alpha Papa).

The days sport culminated in a “Consolation” pace for those unplaced earlier in the day giving horses a second bite of the cherry to win some prizemoney and this event was free to enter. Four went to post in the which ended in a cozy success for Ballycoan Major and driver Paul Telford.

Drawn in pole position, Ballycoan Major took maximum advantage of the plum draw and set a frenetic pace. As the race progressed the early leader kept up the breakneck pace and none of his three rivals could lay a glove on him thereafter.

He went on to cruise to a one and a half length victory over Castlewood Glensman, who in turn had a length to spare over Mystical Carbs with the winner clocking 2:02.5 for the mile.

The next meeting at Racetime Raceway is September 18th.

by Thomas Bennet, for Harnesslink