Where are they now: Kneedeep N Custard

Kneedeep N Custard (Custard The Dragon) is a name many western Canadian harness racing fans will recognize because he holds the record for the fastest mile in the Western Canada Pacing Derby.

The now seven-year-old gelding achieved the feat by pacing the mile in 1:51.2 back in 2019. Kneedeep N Custard’s accomplishment was only one-fifth of a second off Century Mile’s all-time track record which was done by Jewels Dragon (Custard The Dragon) during the Western Canada Pacing Derby eliminations that year. Kneedeep N Custard finished second behind Jewels Dragon in the eliminations but got his revenge the following week in the final.

Kneedeep N Custard made his racing debut at Fraser Downs in the spring of 2019 when he was three years old. It did not take him too long to make his first appearance in the winner’s circle as he won his first race for trainer Kelly Hoerdt. After a handful of starts at Fraser Downs, Kneedeep N Custard travelled east to race at Century Downs. He remained very competitive in Alberta and competed in several stakes’ races. His first stakes win was the Brad Gunn Breeders’ Final where he earned a cheque of $25,000.

After winning the Western Canada Pacing Derby at Century Mile, Kneedeep N Custard moved back to Surrey, B.C. and finished off 2019 with five straight wins at Fraser Downs including the Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders’ Stakes.

Kneedeep N Custard continued to race in Alberta and British Columbia until spring 2021 when he moved into the barn of trainer Jeffrey Cullipher. During his time being trained by Cullipher, he was mainly entered in Open class races at Hoosier Park. Hoosier Park is also where he earned his lifetime mark of 1:49.3. In the fall of 2022, Kneedeep N Custard moved barns once again to team up with trainer, Randall Bendis. Since the transfer, he has had 12 starts split between The Meadows and Northfield Park. He ended 2022 with a couple of wins at Northfield Park but is yet to earn a win in 2023.

Kneedeep N Custard has 30 wins and has earned $382,769 lifetime. He is currently owned by Pollack Racing out of Venetia, PA along with Jeffrey Cullipher.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink