Yes Lynette The Vet is actually named after a vet.
The five year old mare which won at Gore yesterday for Wyndham harness racing trainers Colin and Gordon Lee is owned by Neil Manson from Little River near Christchurch and he takes up the story.
"I have a bit of land that backs on to the local vet clinic and Lynette Curry a vet who worked there, got attached to the mare and foal. She used to feed them apples. I'd got the stitch from racing and the foal was left on her mother until she was two. A mate of mine was getting a horse branded so we got the foal done at the same time. I couldn't get close to them. Lynette was the only one who could catch them," said Manson.
So to reflect Lynette's attachment to the mare and foal Manson thought he'd better fire a few names into Harness Racing New Zealand.
"I sent away three names; Lynette, The Vet Lynette and Lynette The Vet. Lynette The Vet was the one that came back. Lynette goes everywhere to see her (namesake) race."
As a young horse Lynette The Vet was given to Murray Edmonds to train. He managed to get one win out the five year old Raffaelo Ambrosio mare from eleven starts before the Lees took over the training.
"I was talking to a mate of mine Ginger Timms and he said Gordon was bringing a float up to get Seaswift Joy from Shinnie (Malcolm Shinn). So he took her home as well."
Lynette The Vet has been in the Lee stable for four starts prior to yesterday's race with her best effort having been a second on her home track in February.
Lynette The Vet beating Larch (15) Photo Bruce Stewart
After getting an absess on her shoulder she hadn't raced for nearly two months. Her return to the race track was without a trial or workout so it was a very good training effort by the Lees and as Gordon pointed out she got the perfect trip.
"That's what counts – getting a nice trip. You don't have any excuses then. I did think that she would be a bit short today. She went out there fresh so maybe that's the key to her," he said.
The Lees trained Lynette The Vet's mother Accelerando Del to win at Forbury Park on September 2008.
She was a Sundon mare out of Del's Lass who was a sister to Game Nian (7 wins), Gypsy Del (7 wins) and Allegreto Del (8 wins).
The horse has plenty of southern connections with Southlanders John Harrington, Jim Hannan and Eddie Lowe breeding Accelerando Del.
The mare and her Monarchy foal are no longer around, but Lynette The Vet may just rejuvenate Neil Manson's enjoyment of harness racing
Bruce Stewart
Southland harness Racing