Harness racing at Musselburgh is rich in tradition, a racing extravaganza that means so much to followers of the sport in the UK and Ireland.
The latest two day meeting did not disappoint, with some really classy performances at a unique fixture in the sport, with races run on turf in a clockwise direction over 1m3f (2200m), racing over 1 circuit with two straights of about half a mile.
Topping the bill on day 1 was the Red John Memorial Hurricane Pace and Hazel Kemp Memorial Free For All.
The card featured a pacer fresh out of a ‘John Wayne movie’ and a 4-Y-O who would be a star turn for any ‘epic’.
White Flame was at the head of the betting for the Hurricane Pace on the back of some scintillating efforts at Aberystwyth, Portmarnock and Tir Prince.
The speedy coloured pacer, who I’m sure Geronimo would have favoured in his quest to stay ahead of the US Cavalry, won his heat in a really good clock of 3.04.57 ahead of Rhyds Rock Star.
In the final Jonathan Dunne’s partner raced at the back of the field before making rapid headway three wide before the turn over half a mile from home, however his excretions started to take their toll in the closing stages as Rhyds Passion stayed on strongly in the hands of Richard Haythornthwaite to land the spoils by eight lengths from Valentine Camden, with White Flame a length and a quarter back in third.
The winner was another headliner for the excellent trainer Sally Teeboon, who in the previous race, the featured Free For All was once again witness to the stable star Miraculous working hard off a slow pace to master the tough as teak mare Shades Of Grey by a neck with Porterstown Chris and Party At The Spa close up behind.
The best quality race of the day amazingly recorded the slowest time of the meeting, 3.10.95.
There was a Stewards’ Enquiry into possible interference in the closing stages as things got a bit tight among the leading protagonists, but the Stewards were satisfied events did not effect the result.
Heat 1 provided an exciting climax as GDS Warrior beat Royal Mint Howard by a head, the front two pulling clear of the remainder.
There was another close finish to heat 2 when JMS Macy Hallstar and Andrew Cairns beat subsequent final hero Rhyds Passion by a neck in 3.10.5.
No Joking disappointed in heat 3 where Ontop Big C impressed with a six lengths success in 3.06.75.
Talking of impressive, Valentine Camden was just that when putting in a breathtaking finishing kick to win by eight lengths in 3.07.56 for Willie Drysdale, a reinsman who has the knowledge of every blade of grass at this special venue.
A special mention must go to the admirable Ladyford Lad, the 14-Y-O appearing at his last Musselburgh and finishing second in heat 5 before finishing fourth in the Final for Lauren Moran.
The opening Maiden Pace proved a straightforward assignment for Rocker Laidler and Easy Company, who beat Tarawood CJ by one and half lengths in 3.08.70, after the runner up made a break just before the final turn.
The Novice Pace was another triumph for Willie Drysdale as he got the best out of Cierans Star the one length winner ahead of Private Eye in 3.10.82.

After a night of ‘recharging the batteries’ it was onto Famous Musselburgh Pace day, an afternoon that confirmed, if we didn’t already need it, that a 5-Y-O son of The Firepan is a shining star, one who is set to join the Free For All brigade.
Already the winner of the Welsh Classic, a world record holder and Group 1 hero of the Park Lodge Classic at Aberystwyth, Evenwood Sonofagun, along with stablemate Mike Camden, dominated heat 5 in clock of 3.03.65.
Coming to Musselburgh, the winning owners Raymond and Frank Huschka really fancied the chances of Mickey Camden, who they also own, so they may have got the finishing order the wrong way around, but they won’t be worried about that.
So, what of the Final, well we witnessed an exceptional performance from the Rocker Laidler partnered Evenwood Sonofagun, who beat his stable buddy by six lengths in the fastest time of the two days 3.01.78, and that after rain fell throughout the day.
The star was winning his second Group 1, there is, understandably, talk of campaigning the winner abroad, but not before a Free For All venture closer to home first as a tilt at the Crock of Gold could be on the cards.
Of course, harness fans we all know what that means, it means a potential clash with Miraculous, Stoneriggs Mystery, Coalford Tetrick, Porterstown Road and Chris, and others.
If that sort of Free For All doesn’t bring in the crowds, then nothing will!
I’m excited writing this – must calm down!!!
Another excellent performance was recorded by the former Derby winner John Barley, who stretched away to win his heat by ten lengths for David Bevan in 3.04.78.
Like John Barley, the heat 1 winner Triplicate was a winner for the top sire Doonbeg, a sire we associate with speed but here producing two staying winners.
Heat 3 went to the Simon Duggan driven Rhyds Cobbler, who beat Soldier Stanley by three lengths in 3.05.56.
The most dramatic race of the day was heat 4, this looked to be going to Happy Hands before he broke when leading with the race in the bag inside the final furlong. Bayrigg Millionayr was left in front, but not for long as Camden Castellano stayed on strongly in the hands of Hugh Menzies to win by half a length having been last at the two furlong pole.
Mispantastic finished third with last year’s Famous Musselburgh Pace winner Sports Trick in fourth.
The pecking order is starting to take shape now among the 3-Y-O trotters in the Le Trot series and at Musselburgh Eliothrope, who was second to Equilea Du Hauty at Aberystwyth, is certainly one of the leading lights along with his Ceredigion conquerer and the runner up here Enez Leman.
The winner clocked 1.56.0, trotting cleanly to win by four lengths over the seven furlong journey, but it was a pity Equilea Du Hauty was under the weather and forced to miss the race.
Last season’s champion Aged Trotter Sulky Du Blequin held every chance in the Aged Trot but was beaten three lengths and a head by Salvado Bello and Sacha of Carless.
Big mention goes to the brilliant winner but the second put up an excellent performance on his return here.
The 2-Y-O Pace over seven furlongs saw Merrington Movinup make it three from three when beating another nice type in Teddy Camden, the front two pulled clear of DKs Happy Forever who lost ground having broken, but looks the type to trouble the judge in the future.
The Chairman’s C Class Drivers Series Pace is a wonderful addition to the meeting, a great opportunity for the young and lesser experienced drivers to appear on the big stage.
Well, this was won by one of the older drivers Sean Duggan, the colourful ‘voice of Annaghmore’, who drove the winner Rhyds Boots like an old pro delivering his effort up the near side rail.
The day started with a one length success in the Maiden and Novice for Someones Fantasy in 3.14.52, a likeable type who made a pleasing debut the previous night when finishing fourth in the opening Maiden.
So, that’s the round up of Musselburgh, but the message is we are hopefully in for some Free For All treats as the summer unfolds – Miraculous, Evenwood Sonofagun, Stoneriggs Mystery, et al.
See you there!

Darren Owen