Racehorse converted to pacer?!

Okay, I have a strange one for the forum. I am trying to win a bet with a friend.

During the middle or perhaps late 1980s, I distinctly remember a situation of a thoroughbred racehorse being converted into either a pacer or a trotter and competing in what was, I suppose, an exhibition race, maybe at Harold Park.

I definitely remember this, as unlikely as it seems.

Can anyone else remember this? If so, can you remember the horse and the details?

I have tried the thoroughbred forums and a few people vaguelly recall it, but no one can say for sure.

Sorry I cannot help you with this. I had a call last year from the farm that had a yearling of ours he was being prepared for the sales.
They said this colt paces almost every day when he is being exercised, he is a thoroughbred?

In the 70's and 80's at Harold Park they sometimes staged one mile time trials. In these trials a single pacer ( usually a top class one) was set against a galloping horse racing beside it to stir it up . I believe they were thoroughbreds and usually half way through the time trial the galloper would drop off and another galloping horse joined in in an attempt to put some sort of pressure on the pacer to go faster and therefore run a much faster time for the mile.

I think that is what you might be thinking of. I've been around in the industry since a kid and I do not remember a "pacing thoroughbred" nor do any of my friends. The effort and time that it would take if it were even possible for one gimmick race would be hardly worth the effort at all. So my short answer to your precise question is - no you are mistaken , it did not happen.

I don't remember such a horse either Breno though, rather interestingly, if you go back far enough you'll find that an overtly a large number of today's best/fastest Pacing families actually trace to TB mares.
Other horses breeds including some TB's definitely show an inclination to Pace, albeit comparitively roughly as compared to Standardbreds. Morgans will often Pace, Tenessee Walkers perform what's termed a Stepping Pace and some Dressage horses (most often warmbloods I guess? ) can also Pace in a similar fashion too.

So do Camel's Triple if it was an exhibition race it would have been a standardbred under saddle and someone thinking it was a galloper as it was ridden
I have no recollection whatsoever of such a thing as something this odd would easily be remembered.
Get in touch with John Dumesny he should be able to find some record of it from Harold Park it would give him something to do ha ha .

Hmm, well, maybe it was all a dream!

I'd have staked my life on it, though.

AC - hope that bet you had about this was a small one ;-)

If you realise how long it takes to train an actual standardbred horse to pace properly in hopples and all the gear needed , then the thought of even considering trying to do this with a thoroughbred (could take years) makes no sense. All this effort , time and expense for a gimmick race that would last just two minutes !

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Originally Posted by Area Code

I distinctly remember a situation of a thoroughbred racehorse being converted into either a pacer or a trotter and competing in what was, I suppose, an exhibition race, maybe at Harold Park.

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I would have no idea if this did happen, but it is highly possible that the TB was broken to harness and exhibited as a trotter, any horse can be broken to harness and all horses trot. AC did state he wasnt sure whether it was pacing or trotting. highly unlikely it was pacing though.

I am not sure of the horse you are talking about Area Code but I have driven a TB as a trotter and could it trot! This was back in the 70's. I forget the sire of the TB but the mare was later mated with Scottish Hanover, I think?

It's nice to occasionally have this sort of "different" thread sometimes, but really it's all a bit pointless. There is a LOT more going on in the harness racing world right now ( both good and VERY bad) that we should be focusing our attention on. If we are here on these forums we are here for the purpose of speaking about relevant true harness racing matters.

No deference to the OP and those that have posted their thoughts here , including myself, but let's conclude this silly topic.

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Originally Posted by Greg Hando

So do Camel's Triple .

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[VVV] Backed plenty of them over the years Greg & indeed they do, as do Giraffes at the walk for that matter....and Cheetahs too.

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Originally Posted by ozninja

It's nice to occasionally have this sort of "different" thread sometimes, but really it's all a bit pointless. There is a LOT more going on in the harness racing world right now ( both good and VERY bad) that we should be focusing our attention on. If we are here on these forums we are here for the purpose of speaking about relevant true harness racing matters.

No deference to the OP and those that have posted their thoughts here , including myself, but let's conclude this silly topic.

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[VVV] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqJFIJ5lLs

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Originally Posted by ozninja

It's nice to occasionally have this sort of "different" thread sometimes, but really it's all a bit pointless. There is a LOT more going on in the harness racing world right now ( both good and VERY bad) that we should be focusing our attention on. If we are here on these forums we are here for the purpose of speaking about relevant true harness racing matters.

No deference to the OP and those that have posted their thoughts here , including myself, but let's conclude this silly topic.

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Nothing silly about it ozninja that is what forum's are for if you dont like the thread don't read it pretty simple

I won my bet! Yay!! I guaranteed my brother ( a passionate harness nut like myself) when I posted , that I would be shot down in flames within 30 minutes of posting something negative in this thread.

Although looking at it now , what I wrote makes me seem like some serious wowser ( make that wanker) , but really I'm not the jerk that you might think. It was tongue in cheek but guess I need a new script writer :-) I've started some dumb threads before myself here and they have ended up with some very interesting serious input.

Now............... triple , you really love your Youtube. Me too :-)

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Originally Posted by triplev123

[VVV] Backed plenty of them over the years Greg & indeed they do, as do Giraffes at the walk for that matter....and Cheetahs too.

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Hey Big Fella, so do elephants! No wonder the big buggers can really move when they get rolling :D

Regards

Mark

Hey Ozninja...in all seriousness, I reckon most are taking the general heads up from a week or so back...and that these & other such threads are people trying to keep it a bit low-key/ look, listen but as much as is possible don't speak too much too openly of their feelings about happenings here in NSW... despite the repeated extreme provocations to do otherwise.
I'd seriously like to sound off big-time about a lot of what I've subsequently become aware of but of course the time to do that is not now...as I think we've all pretty much agreed upon. Not so sure if I'll be able to keep a particularly civil tongue in my head whilst standing trackside however. Should I be unfortunate enough to encounter some of the individuals involved the urge to tell them a few home truths may well prove insurmountable.

Triple - You're reading my mind. If I happen to be passing by any of these individuals on-track or elsewhere , I hope some strong individual (like my wife!) will be there to drag me away if I get the urge to start speaking my mind.

Undoubted, like myself you are having a lot of animated conversations with friends about it all , behind closed doors. Yes, we need to sit on the sidelines for now and let everything pan out. Although it looks bleak and is shocking publicity for the industry, we will come through this for the better.

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Originally Posted by Mark Croatto

Hey Big Fella, so do elephants! No wonder the big buggers can really move when they get rolling :D

Regards

Mark

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Dad once owned an Elephant that was masquerading as a horse. It was by Field Dixie. To quote him "It had feet as big as dinner plates".

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Originally Posted by triplev123

Dad once owned an Elephant that was masquerading as a horse. It was by Field Dixie. To quote him "It had feet as big as dinner plates".

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Before my time , but looking at Field Dixie's progeny's record online , I don't think he won any awards :-( Maybe they all had big feet.

No stars those ones. They couldn't get it to go...it moved like an Elephant as well...so they sold it for not a lot to a bloke by the name of Dinny Burns I believe.
Dad & my Pop were at Richmond one day three or four weeks later, didn't know what was in, just having a day at the races...and all of a sudden it appeared, its eyes were rolling in its head and it was in a full sweat...moving like a Ballet Dancer. Was backed off the map, bolted in...and was never seen again.
Went from being unable to beat time with a stick to a merger of Mikhail Bayrshnikov & Asafa Powell only to vanish like D. B Cooper. The offspring of Field Dixie hold a special place in local folklore as a result. :rolleyes:

Seen quite a few like Field Dixie Dinny was just a better trainer found the key (to the chemist shop ) to the horse ha ha


I won my bet! Yay!! I guaranteed my brother ( a passionate harness nut like myself) when I posted , that I would be shot down in flames within 30 minutes of posting something negative in this thread.

Although looking at it now , what I wrote makes me seem like some serious wowser ( make that wanker) , but really I'm not the jerk that you might think. It was tongue in cheek but guess I need a new script writer :-) I've started some dumb threads before myself here and they have ended up with some very interesting serious input.

Yep did think who's this Goose so apologie's for thinking that. the little thumb was supposed to be down the bottom but haven't quite worked that out yet. so who's the goose now ha ha