The EVOLUTION of HARNESS Racing . How we got where we are.

[Gammalite]

Have enjoyed a quick reflection on the the development of the Sport as far as the Horse Speed is concerned.

so hope you enjoy too and spend 3.50 minutes of your time to read.   Sir John Walker pace lol 😅.

Some great names are mentioned here , and you can see where and why the sport increased in Speed over the years.

Have tried hard to give many Champions a plug here , so do hope you enjoy my Summary of Progression of the Mile Rate in our great Sport.😊 

HERE you GO . Space> 

A long time ago when Roger Bannister ran the Athletic mile in under 4 minutes it was a huge deal.  (in the 1950's) 

Then Sir John Walker from New Zealand put the country on the world Map being the First man to break 3.50 for the mile in the 1970's. ( WR is currently about 3.43 for a human mile) 

Like-wise a Standardbred Pacer has evolved at a similar rate over time going from 2.00 mins in the 50'60's to a fast 1.49-1.50 mile they run in the 2020's. 

These horses being about twice as quick as the best human athletes at that distance, generally .

This Evolution for the horse came with switching from Handicap Standing Start racing in the early 80's , to High Ball sprint racing like USA always has/had from the mobile.

New Zealand history littered with stars like Lordship, Jonny Globe ,Cardigan Bay, False Step ,Robin Dundee and others who often came off LONG Handicap marks like 48yards behind the front markers to win  . So impressive these performances they became Household names. They were the early 2.00 min mile pioneers. Robin Dundee in Fact winning the Very first Miracle Mile ever run  (Australia's Biggest race) in 1.59 in Sydney for NZ and Robert Cameron in 1967.   

But in the 1980's the 2 min horses had to Step it up a Notch. The NZ bred Champions VILLAGE KID ( first horse to win $$2 million in prizemoney Australasia) and Preux Chevalier were smashing out Interdominion Wins and Huge sequences of wins at a 1.55 rate. Village Kid winning the Interdominion in devastating effect 1986 in Brisbane clean Sweeping the Series , with no one getting near him. The Bar was raised to 'John Walker ' Level !! incredible. Could Anyone respond ? yes . 

Step up WESTBURN GRANT for Vic Frost around 1990. Blowing top quality fields away with huge winning margins. Even had 3 NZ starts that he won easily. 

1990's saw some greats trying to copy the SPEED of Village Kid and Westburn Grant with a mix of Staying Prowess. to win the features. So Chokin, Holmes DG, Christian Cullen and Iraklis emerged from the ruck for NZ , to not only use their now 1.54 mile speed to win but could hold it over a mile and half , so became Superstars of the track.

Can we beat these horses ?  How could we do it ?  Occasionally the Brilliant Staying Ability of NZ standing start horses would WIN the DAY. Our biggest staying race in Australia is the prestigious standing start long distance A G HUNTER CUP run at Melton, and has been won no less than 15 of the last 30 runnings by the NZ superstar 'STAYERS '. like Master Musician, Elsu, Blossom Lady,  and Yulestar (plus about 10 others)  .  these horses with great NZ Cup and Interdominion records. 

STEP UP the early 2000's . A new type of horse. Solid tough as nail horses Like Monkey King , Blacks A Fake , Smokin Up, Sokyola dropping the mile rate from the 1.54 down to a now commonplace 1.52 for these Top horses in the TOP races. Just Incredible speed and staying ability , they often achieved racing 'Without cover ' . Extremely hard to beat.

Now the 2010's Who could beat these Superstars. A new method ? yes !!!  1.52 horses that can Sprint fast the last bit as well . Here comes Im ThemightyQuinn and Christen Me  , Beautide and LennyTheSHark. we now Have Interdominons and Miracle Miles going to this next Generation in 1.50  MileRates. 

Can anyone beat that ? yes !! up steps ALLSTARS with 20 devastating horses over a few years. Mark Purdon proving to be the Best trainer in the HISTORY of the Sport. headed by LAZARUS winning everything to be the BEST ever. His stable-mates Have Faith in Me and Smolda both winning the Miracle Mile in a sizzling  1.47.5.  holy moly  . that's just airborne🙄. 

With the great man Mark semi -retired now , and partner in crime Natalie Rasmussen retired , the Aussies have caught up again ! . Leap To Fame and Don Hugo Smashing fields of horses like Pumpkins the past 2 years winning the last 2 Miracle Miles ( at 1.48.3 each rating ) and the last 2 Interdominion Grand Finals between them in World Class fashion. 

**

Tomorrow night in Brisbane LEAP To Fame and Don Hugo begin their Quest to be a double Interdominion Champion.  No NZers will beat them this time round. maybe next year.  

They are the Current SuperStars of the Track , pushing for the 'Best Horse Ever'  Title.  ( but was great to mention the previous 27 Best horses ever in this article )  hope you enjoyed. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Gammalite

[TAB For Ever]

Great memories Gamma......you doing your best to provoke some enlightening discussion.

I about to get my hair done [and oil change] and a petticure as off to the much discussed Auckland Trots tonight.

I think there are 4 x 6 horse fields ...sigh.......but it gonna be great ! 

Mid Xmas Dinner...free parking ,free water , free racebook ,free sports bar ,my friend has a 150th share in a tenth of 3 x horses so 3 x free beers.

And many of NZ's greatest ever reinspeoples....many with Interdom memories .....I'll try and tweak a few comments out of them.

THerlihy, BPurdon and Phelan, McKendry , JDickie, MWallis [ Delft ] MWhite ,PFerguson, DButcher, RDunn ,, TMacFarlane ,ICan doosit team ,Stormont.

82 yr old driver Luk Chin , ....the list goes on .

[Nowornever]

2 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

THerlihy, BPurdon and Phelan, McKendry , JDickie, MWallis [ Delft ] MWhite ,PFerguson, DButcher, RDunn ,, TMacFarlane ,ICan doosit team ,Stormont.

82 yr old driver Luk Chin , ....the list goes on .

If only they were all driving in a 13 horse field. Might be tempted to have a bet.

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

THerlihy, BPurdon and Phelan, McKendry , JDickie, MWallis [ Delft ] MWhite ,PFerguson, DButcher, RDunn ,, TMacFarlane ,ICan doosit team ,Stormont.

What a great lot of horsepeople. Their Experience and List of Winners over the years enough to crush any New Players. 

Nathan Purdon Not making your list 😂🤣. Treacherous Baby in tonight Not even with a single Win this year ?. Must of fallen off the truck too many times and lost form altogether like that . even got a Junior driver on it now lol. No wonder Nathan not on your 'Hit'  list 😂. 

His dad might win In Brisvegas with Rubira and OscarB tomorrow though. a much better bet . 

Demon Blue was sold off to the Aussies as has done nothing this year racing at AKLD in 5 starts and just paddles around in Brisvegas now ,  ( bit of a let-down from his Group 1 placings in Nov just in behind Marketplace on 3 occasions) .

You Better give Nathan a Rev-Up tonight TABman and tell him to pull his socks up a bit. 😋 have a great evening !!