Trotting season’s early start

Mar 18 2008 by Maureen Lloyd, Western Mail

IT IS that time of year again. Even though Easter is as early as it can be, the Llangadog Wales and Border Counties Harness Racing committee will be hosting trotting races at the refurbished all-weather track at Tairgwaith near Ammanford on Easter Monday.

This meeting has been the start of the trotting season since the early 1880s but the last time it was held so early was in 1913 when See Ho won for Leonard Jones from Llanelli.

Even with the difficulties of producing horses early in the season, Monday is set to be an entertaining day. There is nothing like the start of a new season, and this year there is perhaps more enthusiasm after the loss of so many meetings last year because of the weather.

Since the introduction of the Nursery race several years ago, it has become a favourite, with spectators hoping to see future stars of the sport. The most experienced is Sam the Man, the chestnut out of the Shermanator Sam stable in Newcastle Emlyn. The older “Sam” won’t be out for a few weeks, but his younger stable companion is sure to fly the flag. True Grit, the grey belonging to farmer’s wife Janet Thomas from Tregroes, showed promise at the end of last season, but what about the “new kids on the block”– C U Boykin with Debbie Hitchcock aboard and Terry Edwards’s new purchase Wellfield Inspired.

The Baby Novice section takes some sorting. Non’s Choice returns from maternity duties, East of Eden will be some racehorse if she can emulate her dam Joint Account, Saunders Bliss has impeccable breeding while American bred Brywins Badlands could blow them all away. One interesting competitor is the American import Mannart Gabriel, a big bay horse which was sold at Builth Wells last October. New owner, care assistant Katrina Haslam from Llanybydder, is looking forward to his debut with W&BC.

The Novice section is difficult to predict with horses like Belleheir (Ladek, Shropshire), Lucky Nipper (Thomas Llandeilo) and local Swifty (Jones, Ammanford) sometimes putting in exceptional performances. More is expected from Lyons Frank (Langford Pontardawe) Brywins Best Chance (Powell, Merthyr Cynog) and Ayr Force One (Evans Newcastle Emlyn) but Mrs Barton from Clunderwen has entered new recruit Family Circle, which could be one to follow.

It will be fast and furious in the Grade B with the Weigel family from Llanddewi Velfrey having two runners.

However the Hitchcock family will also be out in force with Ceirion Shon returning after an injury which took him out for most of last season, as well as Vrynwy Chef, while the winner of the Irish breeders premium, Meadowbranch Mike, is a likely challenger. Melanie Langford, the leading driver from last season, has Wellfield Cameran and Wellfield Xpense, while Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen) will get a huge cheer if he leads them home.

The Grade A superstars of racing are pure magic to watch, and the little chestnut mare Believe, with deposed champion driver Derek Pritchard in the seat, will be anxious to get a good start. Last season’s champion Live the Dream, owned by the Langford family from Pontardawe, will surely put in a good performance. Purple Rain, bought by Terry Edwards from Bromfield before last season, proved himself a worthy addition to the stable. Master Chance, the Ceredigion champ runs well fresh, and could take all the beating.

Come Easter Monday at Tairgwaith the horses will be “off and pacing” for the start of the 2008 season.