TRAINER Jack Trainor says star harness racing mare Braeview Kelly (Bettor’s Delight) will decide herself whether she defends her Queen Elizabeth II Mile title. Braeview Kelly The curtain is coming down on her fantastic career and Trainor won’t even nominate the former Kiwi mare for Saturday week’s feature unless she runs extra well in this week’s $50,000 Group 3 Robin Dundee (1609m) at Menangle. “She doesn’t deserve to be just making up the numbers,” he said. “She’s been a fantastic mare, and this week will tell us whether she should go around in the big one or not.” “I’m pretty sure ..read more

Prepare for fireworks for the second week in a row in a major WA feature harness racing race. Minstrel While the likes of Spirit Of St Louis, Hot And Treacherous and even Minstrel mid-race set sparks flying in last week’s $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor, it will be Lavra Joe and Pinny Tiger going at it early in Friday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup. Lavra Joe’s new driver Gary Hall Jr is committed to an early burn from barrier to try and hold the lead from noted speedster Pinny Tiger in gate five. “I’ll be hellbent on leading,” he said. “I know there’s talk of letting Pinny Tiger cross me a ..read more

A nasty fall just after the release of runners in Race 6 at Goulburn on Sunday afternoon has resulted in local reinsman Harry Ross sustaining a broken elbow which will sideline the rising star for up to three months. Harrison Ross (Club Menangle Photo) In a simple racing incident, Ross was dislodged from the gig when driving Beer Money (For A Reason) after he had restrained the gelding from a wide draw to take a sit at the same time as the Seaton Grima-driven Watch The Great One paced roughly, resulting in it losing balance and falling. Ross could not avoid the trouble and was catapulted throu ..read more

Newly elected Harness Breeders Victoria chairman John Coffey, one of the most respected figures in harness racing in this country, has viewed his concerns regarding a number of issues confronting the breeding industry in this country. John Coffey “I refer firstly to the 11 percent drop in the number of mares bred in Australia by chilled or frozen semen last season compared to the year before,” Coffey said. “Victoria and NSW where an estimated two-thirds of the broodmare herd are based have borne the brunt of the reduction.” The number of services in the country in the closing season was 4,284 ..read more

Her dad, Googoo Gaagaa was a harness racing world champion with wicked speed. Her mom, Callmemza, won multiple DSBF Finals. Her sister, Callmegaga was a one time MDSS stakes record holder and her grandfather, Great George Two, while quirky, could fly. So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Call Me Goo is a talented horse. Tuesday night at Rosecroft, the four year old started her new year in fine fashion romping to victory in the $25,900 MDSS Open for 4&5 year old trotters in 1:54.2. Call Me Goo in prior win Jason Skinner trains the winner for Graham Grace Stables and the mare was bred ..read more

Josh Aiken made his long-awaited return to the sulky in emphatic style when he steered home Maoris Mac (Volstead) to harness racing success in the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic Final for three-year-old trotting filles on Saturday night. The 30-year-old hadn’t prepared a winner since 2018 or driven in a race since June last year, but piloted the squaregaiter home at long odds of $23 with the TAB. “It’s a good feeling, it’s very pleasing to get a winner for (owner) John (McHugh). I was probably a bit more nervous about the training side of things,” Aiken said. “You want your horse t ..read more

Tyler Borth became Ontario’s champion harness racing reinsman on Tuesday (Apr. 23) as he won the Ontario Regional Driving Championship at The Raceway at the Western Fair District. The driver scored 71 points, defeating reigning three-time Driver of the Year James MacDonald by 12. Borth and MacDonald will be the province’s representatives at the National Driving Championship (NDC) in July, which will determine who Canada sends to the next World Driving Championship. Tyler Borth (third from right) and James MacDonald (third from left) receiving their awards (Claus Andersen Photo) Borth led the c ..read more

OAK GROVE, KY — Ron Burke trainee Oh Look Magic (Lookslikeachpndale) shipped and delivered as the 9-5 harness racing favorite in the $30,000 Open Trot at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday (April 23). Oh Look Magic and driver Devon Tharps Just For Trix (driven by Andy Miller) moved for the lead off the wings but relinquished control after a :26.3 first quarter to a headstrong Oh Look Magic (Devon Tharps) coming past the stands first time. Oh Look Magic muscled to control before the second turn and coasted through a :55.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:24.1 while Just For Trix ga ..read more

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The only harness racing mare in the field, Passionate Promise (Creatine), showed “the boys” how to get the job done when she won the $35,000 Game Of Claims Trotting Series Championship for $25,000 base-tag horses on Tuesday afternoon (April 23) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Passionate Promise and driver Matt Kakaley (Curtis Salonick Photo) Even-money favorite Fight Song, coming off a sweep of his GOC Trot three prelims (including handing Passionate Promise her only loss in the competition), took control early from post two, with Passionate Promise settling right ..read more

Plainville, MA —  After finishing second by a mere head in her last two harness racing outings, Arizona (Up The Credit) turned the tables on Tuesday (April 23) when she captured the $20,000 featured pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park. Arizona and driver Bruce Ranger Bruce Ranger air mailed Arizona from post seven and expeditiously gained the lead before hitting the first turn. Arizona then set swift fractions of :26.2 and :55.3 while Booraa N (Ron Cushing) tried to advance in the breeze. As the race moved onto the backstretch, Side Piece (Brett Beckwith) swung three-deep aroun ..read more