On Saturday, September 26, the Harlequin Invitational will be raced along with the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals at Mohawk Racetrack and will mark a significant milestone for Racing Under Saddle in Ontario.
Although Mohawk has hosted numerous RUS races in the past, the Harlequin Invitational will be the first RUS race where Mohawk will offer pari-muutel wagering.
In honour of RUS Ontario’s forward goals, the race was named after one of the early stars of racing under saddle, Harlequin. When many horses have hung up their harnesses for green pastures the mighty Harlequin was embracing a new type of racing and proving to North America there is a place for a new kind of “harness” racing. Geoff and Shanna Maltby will have many great moments in life, but for the better part of nine years a horse named Harlequin was a big source of great moments.
The bay colt arrived at the Maltby’s farm as a yearling and like so many others by his sire, Balanced Image, he was a handful. Trouble seemed to find the colt at every turn even through his three-year-old year. Geoff Maltby knew he had a special horse early in the training process, so special that payments were made for the Hambletonian. And he was training like a horse that belonged in the trotting classic having prepared with a head turning mile in 1:54. The stage was all set for a trip to the fabled Meadowlands; however things would take a turn as a summer storm blew across the farm upsetting the colt so badly he jumped on himself injuring his foot so much that he was unable to race for the remainder of the summer.
Finally as a four-year-old Harlequin’s speed and ability started to emerge on the track and he ripped through the lower condition races with ease...when he had his game face on, that is. Still an independent-minded horse, neither trainer nor driver knew which “Harley” would show up on race night. In fact most times no one would know the answer to that question until the field was approaching the starting gate. When on his best behaviour he would unleash an assault on his opponents and often come home with the win. However if 'Harley' did not feel the need for speed, a devil child would show up and take off on a gallop as the race began. Harlequin’s trainer knew there had to be a reason for the erratic behavior and also a way to deal with that behavior. With much trial and error Maltby came to understand most of the mistakes were the result of the trotter wanting to try to win too hard at the wrong moment. And as they learned the reason why Harlequin could be so unpredictable, they also discovered ways to help him cope with his overwhelming desire to win.
The seasons rolled by and every year Harlequin provided his connections with happiness peppered with disappointment as he never completely overcame his penchant for making breaks behind the starting gate. However by the time his handsome trotter was 11 years old Maltby knew the horse wasn’t happy racing. He had lost his desire to win and try too hard, in fact he did not want to face the starting gate at all -- pinning his ears and trotting towards the gate with no spark. Enter another Ontario superstar, Arch Madness -- also sired by Balanced Image -- and Maltby learned his troubled charge wasn’t the only horse that had lost interest in being a race horse. Arch Madness had also struggled with keeping fresh and interested in racing but his trainer had introduced a new way to keep fit and focused. Arch Madness did all of his exercise throughout the week under saddle, the change in equipment and scenery allowed the horse to continue to perform at the top level of harness racing for several more seasons. Maltby was intrigued by the idea and thought if it could work for an international star like Arch Madness, it was a good thing to try with Harlequin.
As Harlequin was facing his struggles with racing in harness, a new type of racing was being exhibited at Ontario harness tracks. Wildly popular in Europe, Monte or under saddle trotting was beginning to take hold in North America and the timing could not have been better for Maltby and Harlequin. Making a few phone calls Maltby secured RUS Ontario President Julie Walker to come to the farm and give 'Harley' some lessons in riding. Showing his true heart he took to riding with no issues and quickly found himself facing the gate under saddle. As the connections watched anxiously Harlequin and rider Riina Rekila scored down and turned to the mobile starting gate for the first time at Grand River Raceway on July 26, 2013. Harlequin pricked his ears and trotted eagerly towards the start. Not only was he finally happy again he went on to win the race handily and successfully start another chapter to his career.
Paired regularly with the extraordinary Finnish horsewoman Riina Rekila, the duo went on to win three RUS races in 2013. Rekila and Harlequin also finished second at Mohawk Racetrack giving Thoroughbred jockey Emma Jayne Wilson a strong battle to the wire in a September 2013 exhibition race featuring the Eclipse award winning jockey aboard a RUS trotter.
Sadly, 2014 saw issues from Harlequin’s past resurface as foot infections kept him sidelined for much of the year. Even with the complications the racing warrior got qualified and competed under saddle. This year brought more difficulties for Harlequin and with the mandatory retirement age of 15 only a few months away the Maltbys decided to retire their amazing trotter from racing.
Completing a career that saw him take a 1:53 time badge at the grand age of nine, win 27 times for earnings in excess of $400,000 and reach new fans with his brilliance under saddle, Harlequin was generously gifted to the Maltbys by his breeders and owners Pat and Sheila Burns. A horse of a lifetime has been given a lifetime home.
The 2015 Harlequin Invitational will feature riders from around the globe. Top Swedish rider Stephanie Werder and French innovator Philippe Masschaele are both scheduled to ride in the race. Masschaele will be in the irons for favoured Santo Domingo (PP5, 5-2) and will face stiff competition from Hidden Identity and rider Marielle Enberg (PP3, 3-1). One horse conspicuous by his absence is Tragically Shipp, who won the last two RUS events at Hiawatha Horse Park and Georgian Downs. After recovering from a suspensory injury to return to the track, co-owner Lynne Magee told Trot Insider that Tragically Shipp (aka "Harry") has suffered yet another suspensory injury on the opposite leg from last year.
"He has given us and so many others so many thrills in the RUS events over the past two years with his devoted rider, Natalie Elliott, as they blazed by in their yellow and orange colours," said Magee. "He will not be a happy horse to be retired to pasture again because he does truly love to be at the racetrack doing what he does so well.
"We are doing what is best for Harry and hope that he heals well and has many healthy years ahead of him with a family that admires respects and loves him to no end."
$10,000 Harlequin Invitational -- Post time: 7:45 p.m.
1. Cool Creek Valley -- Martta Smura - 15-1
2. Twin B Excalibur -- Evelyn Harms - 15-1
3. Hidden Identity -- Marielle Enberg - 3-1
4. A Penny Earned -- Heather Reese - 6-1
5. Santo Domingo -- Philippe Masschaele - 5-2
6. Funny Photo -- Sophie Engerran - 12-1
7. Wine Photo -- Sarah Town - 5-1
8. Broadway Prince -- Stephanie Werder - 8-1
9. Radical Dreamer -- Marit Valstad - 15-1
10. Ale Ale Jandro -- Brittany Kennedy - 10-1
(with files from RUS Ontario)