Eight great races starting at 7pm.

On our televised race night on Monday 17th August we will be having a special Ladies Night with £000’s of prizes, champagne tent, disco, late bar and much more.

Ladies Night Poster July 09

Last night at Tir Prince the weather gods shone on us again because at 5 o’clock the drizzle stopped and almost miraculously the sun came out and cleared all the grey clouds away. The large family crowd were able to bask in the warm sunshine in shirt sleeves.

The racing lived up to expectations with Mick Lord and Jason Podmore both having good nights. In the first race a 12 horse maiden race the draw was kind to Mick driving Desert Storm and from position 1 bossed the race and won comfortably from Jason on Lightening Blue who just held off Joss Edwards on Worthy Bach by a neck.

In the two year old race Jason was very impressive on Rudd Hannover beating Vicky Gill on Rhyds Ponder into second. In the trot John Richardson won very comfortably on Jack OG Lobell and looks a good bet for next weeks Roosevelt shield, Paul Mather jnr on Piri Piri just held off John Towe on UFO Apache for second place.

The 12 horse grade 0 to grade 2 race was a cracker with local trainer/drivers Jim Mcinally and Mark Elvin on Catscam and Ayr Mission crossing the line in a rare dead heat in a very impressive time of 2.018 both from the 10 yard line, Romaine Pearson was only 2 lengths back in third on Caenwood Rhapsody.

Next came the eagerly awaited 3 year old Derby heats over 1 and a half miles, unfortunately the heats were decimated by injury and cock ups over paperwork now is the time to simplify the entry procedure and introduce clearer communication between the office and the owner/trainers. The draw was made and the first heat included Coalford Potter drawn one, Boat Toy, Celebrity Tango and Shane’s Baby in position two, three and four. In the end nobody could live with Megan Taff on Boat Toy winning by 11 lengths from Georgina Nicholson on Coalford Potter who held off John Richardson on Celebrity Tango by a further 2 lengths. In the eagerly awaited second heat we had last years top 2 year old Rhyds Destiny, Musselburgh winner Check on Jack and the in form Roddy Hannover and Majestic Rosa. This was a more interesting race with Rocker going to the front early on driving Check on Jack, closely followed by Mick Lord on Rhyds Destiny and Gary Clarke on Roddy Hannover. Coming round the last bend into the straight it looked as if Mick and Gary would catch Rocker but with an impressive turn of speed Rocker put his foot on the gas and this wonderful three year old responded immediately and put 5 lenghts between fast finishing Rhyds Destiny, the time was a quick 3.062. “Rocker” keeps rollin’ on and it will take  a very good horse to beat it next week in the final.

The final race was a very competitive 1 mile handicap and this time Mick Lord on the classy Howards Contender just held off Jason Podmore on Mach Little with Megan Taff on Ynys Mari in third, the winning time of 2.011 off 10 yards in the cool late evening was very respectable.

Now we can’t wait for next Monday 27^th July in what looks like a mouth watering nights racing. We are looking forward to seeing Laneside Lexus line up in the PFA Crock of Gold heat, the Derby final, can anyone stop Need for Run in the Roosevelt Cup will the trot record be broken? There is the Welsh Cup heat and a £1000 one mile preferred free for all for some really good top class pacers. There is bound to be a large crowd so get there early!

We already have a healthy number of entries for Tuesday 21st July. We hope that the card will include two heats for the Derby, two trots a maiden race (please note that there will not be a race for any maidens on Monday 27th July) and two pace races. We hope that the top race will be a preferred FFA if entries permit. Start time will be 7pm. If you wish to enter a horse please phone/fax Gordon on 01492 535717 by 10 am on Wednesday July 15th.

There will be qualifying races on Tuesday 14th July at 6pm please book in with Gordon.

There will be heats for the 3 year old Derby on Tuesday 21^st July at Tir Prince. Interested parties who are eligible should send in their entry by 10 am on Wednesday 15^th July to Gordon by phone or fax on 01492 535717. All horses will need to declare by 6pm on Tuesday 21^st July, there will be a draw for all declared horses and they will be evenly split into 2 heats (if uneven the first heat will have the most runners) and the first four will be eligible for the final on Monday 27^th July.

David Senior 10^th July 2009.

The Crown Manhattan team celebrate the new track record

I posed the question would the 22nd be a race night to be remembered some of the comments from hardened race goers were “Magical” “Fantastic” “The best night ever” “Better than last years Crock of Gold finals night”. If you were there you would have your own comments but what was indesputable that the 22nd was a nights racing that could be compared with any around the world. The prize money might be higher and the attendances bigger but the best of British Harness racing can indeed be World Class and when we prepare the half mile track at Tir Prince as well as we did last night and combine it with excellent weather, stewarding, driving and a knowledgeable crowd it takes some beating!

Once again we were blessed with Mediterranean style weather, at 4pm the clouds cleared and we were left with clear blue skies and warm sunshine with hardly any breeze, no amount of praying could have delivered us any better weather.

We started the seven race meting with a 10 horse maiden race with six spread out on the gate to minimise the chances of a poor start, it was a super race with Alan Haythornthwaite on White Star Hanover just holding off Mark Jones on Wexford Beach. You would have to pinch yourself to believe that it was both horses first ever race! When the time was confirmed at 2.025 we all knew we were in for a very special nights racing.

We then had a two year old race with six horses and only one had raced a single time before but once again we had a perfect start and the drivers were to be commended for their skill levels. Jason Podmore on Rudd Hanover tried everything he knew to keep off the two favorites but in the end Vicky Gill on Rhyds Ponder gave local owner Mark Elvin another win with Mick Lord on Rhyds Five Star in second and Jason in third, the winning time was 2.04.

Our third race was a 12 horse race for grade one and twos this was a superb race with a cracking pace being set by Jim McInally on Catscam but Joseph Caffery on the Irish trained Tailgate Princess showed a tremendous turn of speed in the home straight to be beat Catscam into second, the time was an incredible 1.599 an unheard of time at Tir Prince for a grade 1 horse. Vicky Gill drove a great race to come third on Sur I Am Shady just holding off Rocker Laidlaw on JR Hall both horses giving 1st and 2nd a 10 yard start. Tailgat Princess was the first of four horses to receive a winner in under 2 minutes rug.

We all now knew  that barring an accident the track record would be broken tonight.

Race 4 was an 11 horse handicap with the largest trail being 40 yards, a type of race we would prefer not to have to put on but when the horses race with the right handicap in good form (six horses had multiple wins in their last few races)it can produce a a magical race and this was what we got . The four horses on the gate led out strongly with the trailing horses trying to move steadily through the field but with 28.8 for the 1/4 mile and 59.5 for the half it was very difficult to make up ground. The lead chopped and changed but with a quarter to go Mick Lord on Howards Contender made a move and made about 5 lengths on the field but around the top bend Rocker Laidlaw on Laneside Lexus who had given a 40 yard start showed what a class horse it was by breaking away from the chasing pack but although it closed slightly on the leader with the crowd making a huge noise for their horse and Mick Lord won by 3 1/2 lenghts in a fabulous time of 1.592 with Laneside Lexus in second (hand time in 1.57 something..) holding off a brace race from William Greenthorn on Rhyds Pearl with Artis Control back in 4th.

The preferred free for all once again brought a number of horses in top form against each other but Windsong Dynamite was drawn one, For a Few Dollars More in two but Matador Hall on the outside. This was a cracking race the quarter was reached in 28.8 and the half in a realy fast time of 58.7 could the track record of 1.575 be broke in this race. The fast time put some distance between the leaders and the pack but the crowd were chearing Alam Haythorthwaite on Matador Hall and John Richardson on For a few Dollars More down the home straight.  Nobody knew the winner until the line was crossed   when John held off Alan by half a length. We had to wait tantalisingly for the time, was the record broken?… NO 1.578 but the second fastest time ever at Tir Prince. Both horses seem destined for a great future, both are only 4 years old. Hugh Menzies drove a great race on Wind Song Dynamite in 3rd with Mick Lord on Oakview Jack in 4th.

The first heat of the Welsh Cup was next with the 10 horses from grades 2 to 5. Megan Taff on Lifes a Beach was expected to go well and was receiving a start from the rest of the field and won comfortably in 2.017 but Huw Evans gave a great drive on Whizzaround to claim 2nd and 125 points with Rhys Evans on the Real Deal in third (75 points) amd Roy Wilson on Point West in 4th (50 points). Lifes a Beach qualifies for the final on 7th September, the four non winners with the highest points will also qulify for the final.

The lights were now on the breeze had got up and it was cooling considerably as the time reached 10.20pm and the starter called 9 of the best horses in Britain to the start line. The draw was kind to the favourite Crown Manhattan, drawn 2, not so good for the other form horse Dream Fair Samurai, drawn 5 and the two non fancied ten year olds who love Tir Prince  Scoot Around and The Big Guy drawn 3 and 4 with Pan Lubber drawing 9.

Artisan was drawn one and William Greenhorn on Artisan led them out really strongly the quarter was reached in 27.9 and the half in 57.6 ( equivalent to 1.552 for the mile) this pace proved too quick and Artisan dropped back with a quarter to go and John Richardson on Crown Manhattan destroyed the field with a blistering turn of speed. It was cheered to the line with everone willing it to break the track record the hand timed clock stopped at 1.575 we would have to wait for the official time. Meanwhile behind there was a cracking race for second third and fourth. Pam Haythornthwaite gave old favorite Scoot Around a wonderful run to come second with Gareth Price finishing a creditable 3rd on Pan Lubber and Brian Gilvear earing valuable points for Dreamfair Samurai in 4th. We waited for our excellent commentator Darrenn Owen to announce the all clear and the official time, 1.574 a new track record!

A perfect end to a perfect nights racing!

Our thanks goes to everyone who took part the only problem is how do we top it.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 21st July we hope to have heats for the three year old Derby and at least one trot.

David Senior

I posed the question would the 22nd be a race night to be remembered some of the comments from hardened race goers were “Magical” “Fantastic” “The best night ever” “Better than last years Crock of Gold finals night”. If you were there you would have your own comments but what was indesputable that the 22nd was a nights racing that could be compared with any around the world. The prize money might be higher and the attendances bigger but the best of British Harness racing can indeed be World Class and when we prepare the half mile track at Tir Prince as well as we did last night and combine it with excellent weather, stewarding, driving and a knowledgeable crowd it takes some beating!

Once again we were blessed with Mediterranean style weather, at 4pm the clouds cleared and we were left with clear blue skies and warm sunshine with hardly any breeze, no amount of praying could have delivered us any better weather.

We started the seven race meting with a 10 horse maiden race with six spread out on the gate to minimise the chances of a poor start, it was a super race with Alan Haythornthwaite on White Star Hanover just holding off Mark Jones on Wexford Beach. You would have to pinch yourself to believe that it was both horses first ever race! When the time was confirmed at 2.025 we all knew we were in for a very special nights racing.

We then had a two year old race with six horses and only one had raced a single time before but once again we had a perfect start and the drivers were to be commended for their skill levels. Jason Podmore on Rudd Hanover tried everything he knew to keep off the two favorites but in the end Vicky Gill on Rhyds Ponder gave local owner Mark Elvin another win with Mick Lord on Rhyds Five Star in second and Jason in third, the winning time was 2.04.

Our third race was a 12 horse race for grade one and twos this was a superb race with a cracking pace being set by Jim McInally on Catscam but Joseph Caffery on the Irish trained Tailgate Princess showed a tremendous turn of speed in the home straight to be beat Catscam into second, the time was an incredible 1.599 an unheard of time at Tir Prince for a grade 1 horse. Vicky Gill drove a great race to come third on Sur I Am Shady just holding off Rocker Laidlaw on JR Hall both horses giving 1st and 2nd a 10 yard start. Tailgat Princess was the first of four horses to receive a winner in under 2 minutes rug.

We all now knew  that barring an accident the track record would be broken tonight.

Race 4 was an 11 horse handicap with the largest trail being 40 yards, a type of race we would prefer not to have to put on but when the horses race with the right handicap in good form (six horses had multiple wins in their last few races)it can produce a a magical race and this was what we got . The four horses on the gate led out strongly with the trailing horses trying to move steadily through the field but with 28.8 for the 1/4 mile and 59.5 for the half it was very difficult to make up ground. The lead chopped and changed but with a quarter to go Mick Lord on Howards Contender made a move and made about 5 lengths on the field but around the top bend Rocker Laidlaw on Laneside Lexus who had given a 40 yard start showed what a class horse it was by breaking away from the chasing pack but although it closed slightly on the leader with the crowd making a huge noise for their horse and Mick Lord won by 3 1/2 lenghts in a fabulous time of 1.592 with Laneside Lexus in second (hand time in 1.57 something..) holding off a brace race from William Greenthorn on Rhyds Pearl with Artis Control back in 4th.

The preferred free for all once again brought a number of horses in top form against each other but Windsong Dynamite was drawn one, For a Few Dollars More in two but Matador Hall on the outside. This was a cracking race the quarter was reached in 28.8 and the half in a realy fast time of 58.7 could the track record of 1.575 be broke in this race. The fast time put some distance between the leaders and the pack but the crowd were chearing Alam Haythorthwaite on Matador Hall and John Richardson on For a few Dollars More down the home straight.  Nobody knew the winner until the line was crossed   when John held off Alan by half a length. We had to wait tantalisingly for the time, was the record broken?… NO 1.578 but the second fastest time ever at Tir Prince. Both horses seem destined for a great future, both are only 4 years old. Hugh Menzies drove a great race on Wind Song Dynamite in 3rd with Mick Lord on Oakview Jack in 4th.

The first heat of the Welsh Cup was next with the 10 horses from grades 2 to 5. Megan Taff on Lifes a Beach was expected to go well and was receiving a start from the rest of the field and won comfortably in 2.017 but Huw Evans gave a great drive on Whizzaround to claim 2nd and 125 points with Rhys Evans on the Real Deal in third (75 points) amd Roy Wilson on Point West in 4th (50 points). Lifes a Beach qualifies for the final on 7th September, the four non winners with the highest points will also qulify for the final.

The lights were now on the breeze had got up and it was cooling considerably as the time reached 10.20pm and the starter called 9 of the best horses in Britain to the start line. The draw was kind to the favourite Crown Manhattan, drawn 2, not so good for the other form horse Dream Fair Samurai, drawn 5 and the two non fancied ten year olds who love Tir Prince  Scoot Around and The Big Guy drawn 3 and 4 with Pan Lubber drawing 9.

Artisan was drawn one and William Greenhorn on Artisan led them out really strongly the quarter was reached in 27.9 and the half in 57.6 ( equivalent to 1.552 for the mile) this pace proved too quick and Artisan dropped back with a quarter to go and John Richardson on Crown Manhattan destroyed the field with a blistering turn of speed. It was cheered to the line with everone willing it to break the track record the hand timed clock stopped at 1.575 we would have to wait for the official time. Meanwhile behind there was a cracking race for second third and fourth. Pam Haythornthwaite gave old favorite Scoot Around a wonderful run to come second with Gareth Price finishing a creditable 3rd on Pan Lubber and Brian Gilvear earing valuable points for Dreamfair Samurai in 4th. We waited for our excellent commentator Darrenn Owen to announce the all clear and the official time, 1.574 a new track record!

A perfect end to a perfect nights racing!

Our thanks goes to everyone who took part the only problem is how do we top it.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 21st July we hope to have heats for the three year old Derby and at least one trot.

David Senior

Once again Tir Prince was lucky with the weather as a large crowd assembled in the breezy sunshine to watch a quality nights racing. Local trainer Mark Elvin won the first race for maidens on Ayr Mission 4 lenghts ahead of Bon Robert in second. The second race saw 12 line up with the Laidler stable taking it’s first of two impressive wins with JR Hall, this Grade 1 horse won in 2.035 giving 10 yards, this is a horse to watch! The delayed third race was an absolute cracker the Laidler stables Pagebank Maggie giving 10 yards was just pipped on the line by Mick Lord on Howards Art by half a length in 2.039. The next race was just as good with Meet’N Greet, Stormy Seas and Rhyds Heartbeat (giving 10 yards) storming to the line together with Mick Lord on Heartbeat just pipping Jim McInally on Stormy Seas and David Bevan on Meet’N Greet into 2nd and 3rd respectively. The top class pace race was eagerly awaited with the top graded Terripan Hanover giving 40 yards and Laneside Lexus giving 20 yards making an early dash into the lead. It was not long before Laneside Lexus showed its class as it decimated the field winning by 12 lenghths in 2.004, a very fast time, if this horses form continues it will not be long before it is a free for aller, Lee Price on Devil’s Best just beat Julian Price by ½ lenghth on Caenwood Beachgirl to claim second prize. The last race did not start until 9.40 under the lights and although the wind was strong and cool the race lived up to its billing with three horses coming off the last bend together but John Richardson on Mrs Philips’s Crown Manhattan was not to be denied the £700 1st prize and a rug for winning in 1.597 with Patrick Kane’s Southlands Art beating Paul Holden on the Big Guy into third.

The next meeting is on Monday 22nd June when we kick off the Crock of Gold season and the first round of the Welsh Cup.