With Covid-19 restrictions now relaxed in Northern Ireland, Racetime Raceway, located in Lisburn (Belfast), is now fully open for punters to attend and anybody who makes the journey to the venue this Saturday will be treated to a record entry of runners in action.
Three heats will be held with the first 2 home qualifying for a grand final at the end of the program. In the opening heat six pacers are set to go to post with the strikingly coloured pinto Newmoors Jackie Dan, Despicable Me and Rainstorm sharing the starting gate with Fold Mischief, Rhyds Premier and Streamside Skryne in the second line trailing 10 yards. This looks like a very tricky contest with the only filly in the line-up most likely to emerge as the winner.
The penultimate heat also features six pacers with three of these ā Derrybeg, Vyrnwy Saddlepan and On Top Blackshark having won last time out at Racetime. West Cork raider John Barley travels almost 400 miles to compete and should be a lot closer this time around having looked in badly need of the race on his seasonal debut.
The veteran Monugs Boy and welsh bred Cerion JD have been knocking on the door recently and are also expected by connections to be fighting out the finish. All in all, this is race is worth the admission fee alone and the winner of this heat is then likely to start a warm favorite in the afternoons final.
The remaining heat features 3 newcomers to Racetime – Valentine Camden, The Governer and Frisco Hold-Up with 3 new drivers also making their debuts at the venue. All three however will have to be at their very best to defeat the ultra-consistent Tom Wood who won here last time out and driver Conall McGuigan will be anxious to make it 2 in a row aboard the eight year old.
Before the grand final a European square trot will be held and the Swedish bred Diva Valentina will take a world of beating in this if she manages to put in a clear round. Avetot and Evan Jive are also very talented but both can make breaks so the horse that manages to trot an error-free mile will be one that captures the red rosette on this occasion
A āRising Starsā pony trotting race will also be staged on the day and this represents an opportunity for the young drivers of the future to gain valuable experience at the track.
The action starts at 3pm on Saturday and as stated earlier all patrons are welcome to come and support the sport