Update 26 April
Last Friday harness racing lost one of its true champions, a legend of the game in Gavin Lang. Over 6,000 winners, 100 Group Ones and an absolute marvel in his ability to find the line when you thought he was in the most hopeless of positions. Gavin was a man a few words but when he spoke everyone listened. Young drivers all over the country wanted to be Gavin Lang, he was their idol. A brilliant trainer and had a unique ability to see what we going to happen on the race track before it did. He was well known for his ability to understand and read form.
In my time in harness racing two absolutely brilliant drivers stood out for different reasons. Vin Knight and Gavin Lang.
Yorkshire Park sends its condolences to Meagan and his daughters and all the Lang family.
Gav, thanks for the memories and always saying hello.
News Update April 2020
Plenty of excitement over the last month with the race track debut of the Yorkshire Park bred and Michael Stanley trained colt Drain The Swamp. By Somebeachsomewhere out of Vickymurphy the two year old was really impressive on his race track debut finishing 3rd in the Victorian Sapling Stakes in 1.55.1 after sitting in the death seat. He probably cost himself the race over the last 400 metres by wanting to hang in but it didn’t take long for him to record his first race victory when he lined up a week later to eclipse his rivals over the 1720 metre trip last Thursday at Melton winning by 19.4 metres in 1.55.5. He will back up again next Friday 17th at Ballarat to see if he can add to his already impressive race track performances.
Also making her debut was Classy Countess, bred and owned by Yorkshire Park but leased to the Cranbourne Club 21 Syndicate the filly made a mistake in both her racetrack appearances to date. Reports from training Scott Ewan is that she is still learning and will head back to the trials to sort out a few little issues with her.
Also good news is that our Courage Under Fire out of Lombo Socialite gelding sold to Steve Blacker is progressing well and will head to the trials shortly. Named Good Word That, he has pleased his trainer with his work to date and we can’t wait to see him grace the track.
Another of our Yorkshire Park bred horses has also been named by Love You out of La Tonneralla called Maestro. Trained by Brent Lilley we are really looking forward to this guy heading to the track as he is a half brother to the very good trotter Jilliby Babavska and also the filly Magical who continues to perform well at the track.
The Yorkshire Park purchase at this years NZ Sales, Miki Diva is progressing well in New Zealand under the care of John Hay at Ashburton. She is now in the cart and from all reports is pleasing with her progress and is a good natured filly.
Yorkshire Park have leased out our Western Terror x Jewel Bromac yearling to Jeff Cakebread at Barham and she too is progressing well in her early education. We will certainly be cheering her on as she holds a pretty special spot in our hearts at Yorkshire Park.
On the race track a number of our Yorkshire Park bred horses continue to perform well with Rocking Bugatti, Magical, Glenavril King, Hancocks Hero and Pearlescent all being placed recently. Yorkshire Park has also sold it’s interest in the mare Alta Mach and she will be heading to a new stable and we wish them all the best with the Mach Three filly.
It’s weaning time at the moment and our babies will be heading off to be weaned from their mums and start their next phase of life. It is a good time of the year and we really look forward to getting them back home and start the education process.
It is a trying time at the moment and everyone’s world has been turned upside down with the event of the corona virus and the challenges it presents to our industry and people across the world. I must congratulate Harness Racing Victoria on the way in which they have handled this situation and to enable us to keep the industry going has been quite amazing. We certainly pray for everyone out their to be safe and look after each other.
That’s about it for now, look forward to bringing you further updates on Yorkshire Park.
Don’t forget you can catch us on Twitter @yorkshirepark19
Good luck and good punting.
Yorkshire Park team.