Kelly harnessed for raceway thrills

8:14am Friday 2nd May 2008

THERE'S a touch of the gladiator in Kelly Peacock.

How else can you explain her desire to reach frightening speeds while travelling, in the style of ancient Rome, round the dirt track at the York Harness Raceway?

Flying around corners at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour, while trying to control a raging thoroughbred with nothing more than two wheels and a set of reins to guide you, isn't for the squeamish.

Thrilling in which to participate, it is just as exciting to watch, but how many people even know there is a track based just off the A59 in Nun Monkton?

Massive in America, harness racing is York's forgotten sport. While their near neighbours on Knavesmire have basked in success over the last quarter of a century, the Nun Monkton-based track has barely been getting by.

York-based Peacock, an amateur harness racer who trains a select few horses, is addicted to the sport. It's a passion which has also consumed her mother Sheelagh Lord, who is one of the country's top trainers, and step-father Michael Lord, a formidable rider.

They are at the forefront of a city sport which, they hope, is about to explode into life.

The new season is about to get under way at the track, in Pool Lane, and this year there have been a few changes. For a start, it's under new management.

Mick Welling, a top harness racing exponent who runs the London-based Camden Stud, took on the ownership last December and has since set about making big changes at the venue.

Refurbished stables, a new bar, new safety fences and improved car parking are just the beginning of what will be a complete transformation of the York Harness Raceway.

The new season kicks off on May Day Monday and, with race meetings held every weekend until October, Peacock hopes people will come down and find out what all the fuss is about.

"A lot of money has been spent on the raceway and it seems to be paying off," she said. "Normally, for the first meeting of the year, we might be struggling for runners but we've got 40 already.

"One of the great things about the York Harness Raceway is that you can see the horses all the way round. It really is very spectacular. At other race courses, you might just see the horses at the finish but at Nun Monkton the whole race is right in front of you.

"When the horses get round the first corner, they are flying. They can be going round at speeds of up to 40mph."

Peacock continued: "I've been brought into it. I've been around horses all my life and I do think there is something of the gladiator arena about the sport. I'm more of an amateur rider and I have seven of my own horses - four of them I train myself.

"I'm also one of the only young drivers who has had more accidents than has won races! I only drive my own horse and I just enjoy the sport and am really passionate about it."

A horse to follow this season could be Rhyds Hallstar, who is owned by Welling. The five-year-old is back following a year off.

Peacock explained: "He will definitely be one to watch. He won the Major three-year-old Classic race in 2006 and was also the top three-year-old."

Monday's card, and all subsequent meetings, start at 3pm (2pm in October) and, as well as free parking, spectators can also benefit from a licensed bar and cafeteria along with big screen race coverage.

For more information about the raceway, telephone 01773 718970 or log on to www.yorkharnessracingclub.co.uk

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