Smoken Up will be retired from NSW racing this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Menangle, the track where he and trainer/driver Lance Justice etched their names into the history of harness racing with the 1:48.5 time in the Len Smith Mile. On that cool night in April, 2011 in showery conditions, the superstar of Australasian racing treated his rivals and the clock with absolute contempt as the beyond-reach 1:50 barrier was broken for the first time outside of North America. The ‘mighty miler’ (winner of two past Miracle Miles) know to his legion of fans as “Trigger” made Tabcorp Park Menangle his own, winning the Len Smith Mile on no fewer than four occasions since its inception in 2008. According to his fans, Smoken Up’s name should be recorded as the winner of the first five Len Smith Miles. Still he will long be remembered for burning his rivals off and making Lance Justice the fastest driver in the Southern Hemisphere and himself the fastest equine. “Yes, we had a point to prove that night – for a few different reasons,” Lance said. “And Trigger just felt so good when we went onto the track I just knew he was up for it. “The amazing part about it is that 1:48.5 win was probably our biggest winning margin in all our races at that track. “He’s still going nearly as well as ever and won’t disappoint any of his fans. “And I know there are plenty in New South Wales because they follow him on Facebook. “But the pressure’s off now – he’s not being set for any more of the Miracle Miles or Inter Dominions. “This will give all his fans a chance to say good bye to a mighty horse.” According to Chief Executive of the NSWHRC John Dumesny: “Smoken Up holds a very special place in harness racing and especially at Tabcorp Park Menangle. “The Board of Directors had no hesitation in naming the $7 million world’s-best race stalls at the track in honour of Smoken Up.” “We will be commemorating his retirement from the track and NSW with the emphasis on giving mementoes to his fans and the those who admire and acknowledge a true champion of our sport.” Smoken Up only started at Harold Park, Newcastle and Menangle Park during his visits to New South Wales and Saturday night will mark the 12 year old pacer’s 150th race start - in the SEW Eurodrive Open Pace. His record at a glance stands at 149 starts for 73 wins, 38 second placings and 15 third placings for prizemoney of $3,597,915, which included the 2010 and 2011 SEW Eurodrive Miracle Miles. National Trotguide, available at newsagencies, will exclusively report on Smoken Up’s NSW visit this Thursday. Harness Racing New South Wales
The 2012/13 HRNSW Industry Awards night was held at the Hilton Hotel Sydney on Saturday night where the feats of both humans and equines were recognised. Exciting filly Frith was unanimously named NSW Horse of The Year after a scintillating three-year-old season which included the NSW Breeders Challenge, Victorian Breeders Crown, WA and Victorian Oaks. The 3YO of the year was also taken out by Frith whilst Bling It On took the honours in the 2YO category. The Nicole Molander-trained Keystone Del was named Trotter of The Year and Gaius Caesar won the open aged horse division. The Board and staff of HRNSW would like to congratulate the following award winners: Award Nominees Winner McLachlan Thorpe & Partners Carnival of Cups - Leading Trotting Trainer Blake Fitzpatrick Blake Fitzpatrick Goulburn HRC Carnival of Cups - Leading Driver Amanda Turnbull Amanda Turnbull NSW Standardbred Owners Association Carnival of Cups - Leading Trainer Steve Turnbull Steve Turnbull Albury HRC Carnival of Cups - Leading Horse Make Some Magic NZ Make Some Magic NZ Tabcorp Carnival of Cups - Best Level 1 Meeting Coolamon HRC Maitland HRC Penrith HRC Maitland HRC Tabcorp Carnival of Cups - Best Level 2 Meeting Eugowra HRC Fairfield HRC Orange HRC Orange HRC Tabcorp Carnival of Cups - Best Level 3 Meeting Blayney HRC Broken Hill HRC Griffith HRC Broken Hill HRC Tabcorp Centurions Amanda Turnbull Lauren Panella Blake Fitzpatrick Luke McCarthy Robert Morris Steve Turnbull Shane Tritton Belinda McCarthy All Daily Form Service Junior Driver Encouragement Award (Country) Andrew Pitt Ashleigh Camilleri Grace Grant Paul Diebert Sam Hewitt Paul Diebert Lexus of Parramatta Junior Driver Encouragement Award (Metro) Alex Alchin Kylie Barnes Lauren Panella Todd McCarthy Lauren Panella OAMPS Champion Junior Driver Amanda Turnbull Amanda Turnbull OAMPS Champion Driver Amanda Turnbull Amanda Turnbull OAMPS Champion Trainer Steve Turnbull Steve Turnbull National Trotguide Best Coverage by a Regional Newspaper The Daily Advertiser - Wagga The Irrigator - Leeton The Maitland - Mercury The Daily Advertiser Wagga PMG Media Best Coverage by a Regional Television Station Harbor Television Productions NBN Newcastle Prime 7 Wagga NBN Newcastle Garrards Horse & Hound NSW Volunteer Appreciation Awards Stephen Hunt Cootamundra HRC Greg Maxwell Young HRC John Den Eugowra HRC Robert Chew Bathurst HRC Megan Lavender Bankstown HRC Andrew Ho Bankstown HRC Bert Read Bankstown HRC All Penrith HRC Don Clough Appreciation Award Richard Earnshaw Richard Earnshaw Harness Breeders NSW Broodmare of the Year Falcon Black Beauty NZ Jackie Kelly Left For Me Full Pleasure Rochelle Hanover Left For Me Pepper Tree Farm NSW Sire of the Year Presidential Ball USA Tinted Cloud USA Pacific Rocket Ifihadyourluck USA John Street North USA Presidential Ball USA Yirribee Stud in conjunction with Alabar Outstanding Service to the Breeding Industry Pepper Tree Farm Pepper Tree Farm Breckon Farm NSW 2YO Trotter of the Year My Valerie NZ Swishbye Verbier My Valerie NZ Addington Raceway NSW 2YO Filly Pacer of the Year Denises Legacy Distant Memory Majestic Amy Ocean Diva Spicy Stride Distant Memory House of Brook NSW 2YO C&G Pacer of the Year Allblack Stride NZ All Eyes On Us Bling It On Business In Motion Lettucerockthem Bling It On Sky Racing NSW 2YO of the Year My Valerie NZ Distant Memory Bling It On Bling It On Bulli HRC NSW 3YO Trotter of the Year Duchess Ella Nickys Invasion Vincennes Duchess Ella Sir Lincoln NSW 3YO Filly Pacer of the Year Frith Gypsy Babe Im Tondelayo Laaganoosh Tarelle Frith Yirribee Stud in conjunction with Alabar NSW 3YO C&G Pacer of the Year Be Brave Caesar Augustus Ee And Em Stride Home Of The Brave Sir Eric NZ Ultimate Art Home Of The Brave Tabcorp NSW 3YO of the Year Duchess Ella Frith Home Of The Brave Frith NSWHRC NSW Aged Trotter of the Year Keystone Del NZ King Of Strathfield NZ Neville Vaughan NZ Keystone Del NZ Cordina Farms NSW Aged Mare Pacer of the Year Baby Bling NZ Forever Gold Obahma Joy Our Sixpence NZ Baby Bling NZ Harness Racing Travelworld NSW Aged E&G Pacer of the Year Chariot King Excel Stride Gaius Caesar NZ Ideal Scott NZ Mach Alert NZ Mach Beauty Washakie NZ Gaius Caesar Garrards Horse & Hound NSW Aged Horse of the Year Keystone Del NZ Baby Bling NZ Gaius Caesar Gaius Caesar OAMPS - NSW Horse of The Year Bling It On Frith Gaius Caesar Frith
MIster Big immediately drew the attention of the World Cup spotlight with his tough victory in the $332,000 US Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands last weekend.
Friday night's $20,500 Rod Fitzpatrick Memorial over 1760 metres promises to be a highly competitive affair at Harold Park. NSW Breeders Challenge runner-up, Damage Control, has drawn well for wily horseman Harry Martin in barrier three and should take plenty of beating.
Classy pacer Comet Prince strengthened his chances of a Chariots Of Fire invitation following his robust all-the-way win at Harold Park last Friday night.
Harnesslink is pleased to announce that as of today, we will be working in with one of our key industry partners, the Australian National Trotguide and Harness Racing Weekly to bring our readers a cross-section of their printed stories every week.
Production difficulties led to the National Trotguide newspaper not being published last night (February 6).
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