Irish harness racing champ Meadowbranch D J made mincemeat of his opposition in Sunday’s final Inter Dominion heat at Portmarnock on Sunday, smashing the mile and a half track record (2:57.3) in the process of his astonishing 17 length victory. Working hard early he took the lead after half a lap and was never out of second gear. His major rival Brywinsmagicpotion who was two points ahead of him going into the race, chased valiantly but to no avail, winding up second but losing the Aussie invite on a countback as DJ won two heats to Magicpotion’s one.
An amazing series has captured the hearts of all British and Irish fans and resulted in track records in each of the four heats.
Owner Mark Flanagan was one of the instigators of the UK/Ireland series and deserved the success. Driver John Richardson later smashed the Portmarnock mile record on Bath lane with a 1.55.2 clocking to upset Britain’s best Free For Aller Stoneriggs Mystery.
The Delaney weekend drew a bumper crowd where ace Kiwi Dexter Dunn wowed them with four winners while top US driver George Brennan won the big four year old race and Canadian Jody Jamieson flew in for the day and was runner up at his only drive.
Despite having many outstanding horsemen and plenty of well bred stock, the sport is little known to most people in the UK, Ireland and abroad but is making great inroads and starting to generate the recognition it so richly deserves.
Bill Hutchison.
Interdominion Final – Portmarnock 2015