in the champion’s closet random...

The Harness Edge • December 2010

IN THE CHAMPION’S CLOSET

RANDOM DESTINY2,1:58.1f, 3,1:54.1s-‘10 ($691,223)Ken Warkentin – Front Porch Swing – Royal Strength

1. The bridle, which is leather because I love leather, is anopen one with a Crit Davis overcheck bit. She needs to seeher competition but she also can be a little tough behindthe gate which explains the rigging.

2. For bit she just has a plain snaffle. She is not tough in themouth at all.

3. The harness is a Walsh one for no particular reason andthe synthetic harness is more practical.

4. The check is not loose or tight. Somewhere in the middleis comfortable for her.

5. She wears ear plugs.

6. On shoeing I’m different than most people who race atMohawk and Woodbine. I don’t believe in a lot of caulkand my horses seem to all be fine with that. It’s not some-thing you see a lot of in Finland or Sweden either but peo-ple here are convinced they have to have it. This filly hasflat aluminum in front and aluminum full swedge behindwith some grab.

7. Being from Europe I like the Custom brand bike which wehave worn on the filly but of late it was a Brodeur but I’mnot sure which model. She wears gaiting poles which I findwork a little better on the Custom than the Brodeur.

8. No head poles.

9. The filly wears Protecto knee boots.

10. Behind she wears very light trotting boots which are abrand from Finland.

In The Champion’s Closet is sponsored by:

Trainer Riina Rekila’s comments:“I realized this was a very strong horse from day one. She never tiresin training but it took some time to work her out.

“She is a creature of routine. Now she gets fed, brushed and trainedat the same time every day. Every day she is turned out at the sametime for the same amount of time. While she is nice to work aroundshe does like her own time and we finally realized that. I believe thatgood horses know they are good ones and behave differently.

“She takes very good care of herself. After a long season she was sofat we had to make new holes in her stirrup.

“If someone comes along with the right offer she will be sold but thathas not happened. We have never even thought about a schedule fornext year but she will return to race. Based on the way she raced inthe Super Final (winning in 1:55) one has to think she has a goodchance to be very good next year.

“I never saw Royal Strength but I’m told she is like him. She is a verygood looker, big, long and close to being black in colour. She shouldmature more but one never knows. She will start back in January butI believe she is deserving of being named Canada’s Three Year OldFilly Trotter of the Year before that.”

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the view downunder ~ harold howe

december 2010 • the harness edge

The SouThern hemiSphere’S Leading STud FarmS

Alabar BloodstockTongala, [email protected]

www.alabar.com.au

Alabar (NZ) Ltd.PukekoheNew [email protected]

It would safe to say that for the most part Pepper tree Farm had not been on the radar screen for most north

american racing participants but that changed this year.

now in its 15th year of operation, the australian nursery pegged itself as a farm on the move when it secured first Sports-writer and then rock n roll heaven for stud duty. and all this took place in the span of a mere six weeks.

Just who is behind Pepper tree Farm?the 800 acre breeding establishment

is the brainchild of Julie and rob vandyke. it’s located four hours driving time from the airport in Sydney, new South wales, australia and appears to be an entity with an actual plan.

“we truly believe that the state of new South wales is on the verge of becoming a world class centre for

harness racing,” says 54-year-old rob vandyke, a one-time farrier.

“tabcorp Park is the best track in the country now. a new training facility is going to be built there and with the purse structure to come i’m not sure there will be anywhere in the world that will be higher.”

For more than a decade new South wales has been in decline. a once proud racing jurisdiction it fell on difficult times for a number of reasons and was left to watch as adjacent victoria became the epi-centre for the racing game. But that is changing.

a number of breeding incentives have been put in place but more impor-tantly there is the imminent sale of historic harold Park for a projected $120 million. the interest from that along with some of the principal will inflate

BankIng On The FuTure

By securing rock n roll heaven and Sportswriter, Pepper Tree Farm has set the new standard for stud farms in the Southern hemisphere and

positioned itself for some big days ahead.

the view downunder ~ harold howe

the harness edge • december 2010

prize money to never seen before levels. history has shown that everything fol-lows the money and already stables are arranging to relocate.

“we believe the future looks very bright for new South wales but a year ago i would not have said that or had the confidence to do what we did in securing rock n roll heaven and Sportswriter.”

it’s all quite heady stuff for a man who not that long ago was spending his days bent over trimming horses’ feet. there’s none of that anymore but he has retained an admiration for the trade.

“Before i left school i knew that’s what i wanted to do. My family had a farm although they were not particularly interested in Standardbreds. But for me it seemed like a natural progression and it is a good trade. it’s not easy work but i enjoy-ed the mental challenges,” he explains.

“however, it has a limited life span. it takes its toll and these days you do not see many older farriers around.”

Julie comes from a very horsey background. her father was a veterinarian with a bend toward horses and actually wrote several books on horses. Julie’s interests were in jumping and show horses before she met her husband.

a client of vandyke’s was Brian

hancock, recognized as one of australia’s most accomplished harness horsemen. he ran a large public stable through the 1980s and 1990s before easing off in more recent years. it was he who encouraged vandyke to follow the path he did.

in 1996 the couple were able to secure a 400 acre farm in the lachlan valley in central west new South wales. later on they added a second farm of a similar size and then a 45 acre property which is utilized for cash cropping.

“Someone said to us that the syndi-cate behind us must have lots of money to have done the things we’re doing. i said ‘syndicate? try Julie, rob and the national australia Bank.’”

the first stud to arrive on the pro-perty was former ontario stallion top-notcher who was followed by a second son of abercrombie in Panorama.

“we just buried Panorama yester-day. he was 29 years old and had never

been sick a day in his life. he was a won-derful sire for us and for so many people involved with the horse. he was the first notable horse to stand at Pepper tree,” says rob.

But the horse he turns to who raised the bar the most was Jennas Beach Boy.

“For so many years the Southern hemisphere had traditionally been offer-ing stallions that were second, third and fourth string american horses. i always believed there was no reason why people here could not have access to the best quality available. But it took a lot of hard work in establishing contacts and building trust with americans to break through that barrier,” he explains.

“Jenna was quite high profile at the time and was well supported here for three or four seasons. as a sire he never left a standout but did produce a lot of useful horses and he changed the landscape a lot.”

Pepper Tree Farms, which will soon be home to the outstanding pacers Sportswriter and Rock N Roll Heaven for their downunder breeding careers, has also been home to former Ontario star Topnotcher, Jennas Beach Boy, Art Major, Aces N Sevens and Always A Virgin as well as Panorama who passed away recently. “He was 29 years old and had never been sick a day in his life. He was a wonderful sire for us and for so many people involved with the horse. He was the first notable horse to stand at Pepper Tree,” says Rob Vandyke.

december 2010 • the harness edge

the view downunder

and then came art Major which elevated the bar even more.

“he was the highest profile horse ever to come to the Southern hemisphere. again that took time to build trust with Blue Chip Farm. in attempting to do that i tried to put myself on their side of the desk and understand their concerns.

“Finally, we struck a deal where they partnered with us in sending the horse to australia and it has been the model by which the farm has done subsequent arrangements.”

art Major has now been shuttling for six years and has become one of the most sought after stallions in that region of the world.

Just when things looked to be traveling along famously, the farm was blindsided by the equine influenza outbreak and the horse industry was thrown into turmoil.

“we had also bought the Southern hemisphere rights to Ponder but he and art Major had got stranded in quarantine at Melbourne. there was no problem getting them out and breed-ing for the season but there was a danger that they may not have been allowed to return to america. new South wales was greatly affected by this while victoria not nearly so much,” says vandyke.

“we reached a deal with alabar for them to stand the two horses that season. From that alabar came forward wanting to buy into art Major and i sold a percentage of our stake in the Southern hemisphere rights. at that time new South wales’

breeding program was not going that well, victoria was easily the best. But this suited our needs fine because it allowed us to take some money off the table and let us sit on the sidelines a bit just to see where things were going to go.”

the next big venture came when they obtained the frozen semen rights for Somebeachsomewhere. he was the number one horse in the world, maybe of all time, and Pepper tree Farm was the point man downunder. it wasn’t like having the horse actually there but it was another building block.

in august of this year when Pepper tree announced that it had secured the rights for Sportswriter who had literally just been retired, it was viewed as a major coup. australia has had

“For so many years the Southern Hemi-sphere had traditionally been offering stallions that were second, third and fourth string American horses. I always believed there was no reason why people here could not have access to the best quality available.” – Rob Vandyke

Olive Branch FarmChris & Georgia Coyle

4815 Olive branch Rd., Wingate N.C. 28174704 233 5980 | 704 233 1731 fax

[email protected]

Happy Holidays from


Season’s Greetings

Thank you to all the owners and trainers who supported me

this past year which was a personal best. Warm wishes to all

in racing for a wonderful holiday season.

Yannick, Vicki, Jaiden & Addison

GINGRAS

Mt. Elgin, Ontario(519) 485-5358 • Fax (519) 485-6129 • TOLL FREE: 1-877-247-7227 E-mail: [email protected]

www.beloretrailers.ca

HOLIDAY GREETINGSWishing everyone a happy holiday season & successfulNew Year.

Thank you to all our customersin 2010 and we look forwardto working with you again in 2011.

Merry Xmas & Happy Hanukkah

Best wishes to one and all for a GREAT New Year and a special

note to all our friends in New Zealand.

ISAAC WAXMAN & The Stable

December 2010 • The Harness Edge

THE viEw DownunDEr

a love affair with the Abercrombie line horses and Sportswriter looked like a great fit.

“we bought an equity in the stallion and the rights for down here. Again that came after building a relationship with owner Steve Calhoun and Michael Klau of Southwind Farm. when the time came to retire the horse, we were the ones they turned to. i also have to thank John Cashman and Bob Boni for their efforts in helping put this together.

“we’re over the hump now with him. As we do this interview he is right on to serve over 200 mares.”

The ink was barely dry on the Sports-writer deal when the farm announced it had collared rock n roll Heaven which, now less than three months later, looks like a stroke of genius.

“it’s turned out to be a great coup for us but remember, we put up more money than anyone in the Southern Hemis-phere had ever done before prior to the horse racing in the Little Brown Jug. All he’d won to that point was the Battle of

Brandywine. Had the horse not gone for-ward the way he did, we could have been stranded so it was a bit of a gamble.

“But one could not have scripted things better. The Bellino family were wonderful to deal with and stood by our arrangement. People here put a great deal of stock in the Little Brown Jug. There have been a number of Jug winners that have stood at stud in Australia and done well. And many Australians have attended the race over the years.

“Another thing that north Americans may not be aware of is that for the first time ever all of the Breeders Crown races were televised live into Australia. rock n roll Heaven got a lot of publicity over that race and it was heavily promoted that he was coming here for next breeding sea-son. That has led to a great deal of interest already in next year.”

in total the farm expects to breed about 500 mares this season with a roster that also includes farm owned Aces n Sevens and shuttle stallion Always A virgin.

The farm owns a broodmare band of

approximately 25 to 30 mares at any one time and has 100 or so mares on the pro-perty for a variety of clients.

“we are market breeders as well. we offer a consignment of 30 or so head each year for clients and ourselves. Two years ago we sold an Art Major colt for $135,000 which remains the Australian record price for a yearling.”

Clearly, vandyke is bullish on the racing industry now and as a result the future for Pepper Tree Farm.

“i’m particularly proud of the fact that this farm has been created and grown from the horse business. it’s not a sideline funded by another business. we’ve been able to breed a number of quality horses that have gone on to suc-ceed on the racetrack.

“There are some business models that are being employed here in the Southern Hemisphere that i do not want to follow. For us it’s about quality and not how many mares can one breed. That’s not our focus.

“i like to say that we stand studs not stallions because there is a difference.”


P.O. Box 1285 Gerald McCarville Dr.Kensington, PEC0B 1M0

(902) 836-5500

Congratulations to everyone who made 2010 another successful year

of racing in Atlantic Canada.

Holiday Greetings

Season’sGreetingsKevin O’Reilly StablesKevin, Tine & Anton

Best wishes to all in 2011.

WINDSONG ACRESBill & Paulette Loyens

(519) 227-1341www.windsongacres.com


Wishing everyone in harness racing a happy holiday.


72 Ryland Avenue, Truro, Nova Scotia(902) 893-8075(902) 897-9066 Fax

Holiday greetings with every good wish forthe New Year to all.

Thank you to all our patrons, horse peopleand supporters for the 2010 racing season.


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THE BARTER HOUSEADVERTISING INDEX

AAlgna, Tony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48Allard, Rene & Simon . . . . . . . . . . .73Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale . . . . .47

BBartlett, Jason . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Bax, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48Bedrock Training Centre . . . . . .27Belore Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85Berkner, George . . . . . . . . . . . .69Blairwood Farms . . . . . . . . . . . .60Brooks Feeds . . . . . . . . . . . .40, 41Burke Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

CCamara, Lou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Carr, Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Central Ontario Standardbred Association . . . . .26Central Program . . . . . . . . . . . .55Centurion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65, 67Charlottetown Driving Park . .61Classy Lane Stables . . . . . . . . . .58Copley, Jamie . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Currie, Justin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

DDaley, Noel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Danam Bloodstock . . . . . . . . . .86

EEmerald Ridge Farm . . . . . . . .2,3

FFielding, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Ford, Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

GGilkinson, Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . .12Gingras, Yannick . . . . . . . . . . . .85Grand River Raceway . . . . . . . .20Green, Josh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

HHanover Shoe Farms . . . . . . . .11Harder, Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89Harness Tracks of America . . . .27Horse Racing Alberta . . . . . . . .36Hughes, Rod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Hunterton Farm . . . . . . . . .22,23

IIndiana Harness Racing . . . .32, 33

JJamieson, Carl . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Jones, Dustin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

KKakaley, Matt . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Kawartha Downs . . . . . . . . . . .55Kendal Hills Stud . . . . . . . . . . .45

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NNCRHHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67New York Sire Stakes . . . . . . . .93Norman, Nifty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

OO’Hagan, Roy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58O’Reilly, Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87O’Sullivan, Tony . . . . . . . . . . . .12Olive Branch Farm . . . . . . . . . .84Ontario Sires Stakes . . . . . . . . .37Overseas Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

PPark Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .89Peck, Greg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

RRideau Carleton . . . . . . . . . . . .77Rolling Acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Ryder, Chris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

SSaunders, Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . .21Schnittker, Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Schwartz Boarding Farm . . . . .13Seelster Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,25Shadowbrook Farm . . . . . . . . .31Smith, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65Standardbred Breeders & Owners Of Ontario . . . . . . . .65Standardbred Horse Sale . . . . . .7Steacy, Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Stewart, Bob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86Stirling Brook Farms . . . . . . . . .55Sudbury Downs . . . . . . . . . . . .60Sylvester, Chuck . . . . . . . . . . . .49

TTackmaster Equipment . . . . . .60Teague, George . . . . . . . . . . . .35Tioga Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92Toscano, Linda . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Truro Raceway . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

UUmphrey, Travis . . . . . . . . . . . .48

WWallace, Ben . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89Waxman, Issac . . . . . . . . . . . . .85Western Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Windsong Acres . . . . . . . . . . . .87

YYoung, Bob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Young, Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

ZZeron, Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84


Wishing everyone in racing a very prosperous 2011.

A special thank you to all the owners, drivers and groomswho supported me as well as the training centre this year.

MARK FORD STABLEMark & Kelly

And a special thanks to the horsemen and fans of Tioga Downsand Vernon Downs for making 2010 another great year of racing!

We look forward to seeing you again in 2011.

From

Jeffrey Gural, ChairmanJason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing

and the staff and employees of

Where horsemen and fans finish first!

Complete racing information, including our 2011 stakes and late closing eventscalendar will be available at:

www.tiogadowns.com and www.vernondowns.com

Dec15_TiogaDowns:Dec15_TiogaDowns.qxd 11/8/10 11:51 AM Page 1

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