The Markham family have owned and raced Standardbreds since the 1900’s. Ernie Markham and his son John, sold their first yearling at the Sydney Sales over 35 year ago, and except for the first APGold Sale, have sold 6-12 yearlings in every Sale since. They have topped or finished second a few times in the Sydney Gold Sale, the highest priced yearling in Australia ($85,000 in 2006). John Markham breeds from about 10- 15 broodmares every season and only to the top leading sires. His property, “Rainbow Farms” named after his Irish heritage (John’s ancestors came to the valley 150 years ago) and is located on the Hunter River in rich horse country, just south of Scone. John was one of the first to use chilled semen in Australia in the 1980’s. He has bred many Classic, Sires Stakes, Group and $100,000 winners in his time, all with RAINBOW in their names. John Markham is close to the longest surviving original breeders in NSW and has been a constant member of the Harness Breeders NSW since the 1990’s. John his wife Sue, bred the sensational 2YO KEPT UNDER WRAPS, this is their story:
KEPT UNDER WRAPS, 2YO 1.57.1, 3yo 1.54.2, was originally named RAINBOW BETTS and was sold at the Sydney APG sale by Rainbow Farms. Bought by the All Stars Racing team of Mark Purdon for only $18,000, he has proved to be bargain with just over $230,000 in prizemoney so far in his career.
The colt has only had 12 Australian starts for 6 wins, 5 seconds and one 4th (APG 2YO Final). His 2YO season under the guidance of Brent Lilley, included a second in the Australasian Breeders Crown final to the champion colt, FOLLOW THE STARS after he had won the heat and semi-final. Then victories in the time honoured Tatlow stakes and heat and semi-final of the Australian Pacing Gold, later led to him being announced “Victorian 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year.” As a 3YO, his only 4 starts have included a first up win at Menangle in 1.54.2, then winning the NSW Breeders Challenge Final, after a second in the heat and semi-final.
By the all conquering BETTORS DELIGHT, from the SAFELY KEPT mare RAPT IN COTTON, a half sister to the top juvenile GENUINE NUMBERS 2YO 1.57.9. 1.53.6 19 wins, $190,000 who won the 2YO and 4YO WA Pearl Classic finals, Gold Slipper Gr1 and CONFIGURATION 14 wins, 1.58.2 $100,000. RAPT IN COTTONS’ dam, CLASSIC FIGURE was by CLASSIC GARY and a full-sister to SAAB $577,000. WA Derby, Gold Nugget and Gold Slipper, TALLADEGA $411,000. WA Derby, SAABELLA $205,000 Victorian Sires final, SAABETTE 1.56.2 and a half sister to the dams of Tasmanian Oaks winner NICKLE MISS and POLE DANCER $186,000, Gr1 Gold Bracelet winner. Their dam, SOKYS NUMBER was voted Australian and twice Victorian “Broodmare of the Year” and is a sister to the grandam of HEXUS 1.55.0 $555,000. Other close relatives include the champion MOUNT EDEN and NZ cup winner CAMELOT $162,000. This is the family of NORICE/DAIRYMAID U30.
The Markham’s breed from about 10 -12 mares each year, concentrating on only two and three year old producing families and breeding only to the top sires and were one of the first to use chilled semen back in the 1980’s. The picturesque farm is customised to the needs of all the mares and foals that are catered for by John and Sue who carry out every phase from breeding the mares on farm to yearling prep and see they lack nothing from day one. This year Rainbow Farms will sell 8 yearlings at the next Sydney APG sales including a leggy half sister to KEPT UNDER WRAPS by WESTERN TERROR. A SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE colt first foal from ARTISTIC RAINBOW 1.55.6, $100,000 (Newcastle horse of the year) by ARTSPLACE USA and BETTORS DELIGHT filly from DANCE A RAINBOW dam of CATALINE RAINBOW and ALLNIGHT MLADY. Also an ART MAJOR colt ¾ brother to RTISTIC RAINBOW and an ART MAJOR colt from LINCOLN ROOM USA 1.55.8 (last years ART MAJOR colt “MAJOR RAINBOW’ won in Adelaide at his 2nd start in 1.59.7. Mark Purdon has now purchased 3 yearlings out of the last 4 sales from Rainbow Farms, with the acquisition of a nice ART MAJOR colt from HAY SHARON, the dam of ARTISTIC RAINBOW in February. It has been great to see Mark supporting the Sydney Sales each year and is a positive step for breeders in NSW.
HBNSW—SEEKING SPONSORS FOR ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT
Date: Saturday 3 October 2015 @ Tabcorp Park Menangle
(PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM LAST NEWSLETTER)
Three packages are available:
$500 HBNSW AWARDS NIGHT SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
• 2 tickets to the Annual HBNSW Awards Night Dinner which includes course entry, buffet dinner and race books. • Erection of banner (supplied by sponsor) at Awards Night.
• Your logo displayed on the Presentation Slideshow at the Awards Night (for the Award you have sponsored), opportunity to place promotional items on tables at the Awards Night.
• Trophy for Award you have sponsored for the HBNSW Awards Night.
$1,000 HBNSW AWARDS NIGHT SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
• 4 tickets to the HBNSW Annual Awards Night Dinner which includes course entry, buffet dinner and race books.
• Erection of banner (supplied by sponsor) at Awards Night.
• Your logo displayed on the Presentation Slideshow at the Awards Night, opportunity to place promotional items on tables at the Awards Night.
• Trophy for the Award you have sponsored for the HBNSW Awards Night.
• Your logo (with a link to your website) on our website for 12 months www.harnessbreedersnsw.com.au which receives over 4,000 views per quarter.
$2,000 HBNSW AWARDS NIGHT SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
• Naming rights of one (1) Race at Menangle Park Paceway, on HBNSW Annual Awards Night. (This will allow you to name a race on the night which will enhance your brand’s recognition in the community. Your name will appear on Sky Channel in Clubs, Hotels, Private Residences, over 5000 outlets and 2 million viewers in Australia. It will also appear in the Race Night Race Book, Daily Telegraph, Sky Sports Radio (104 stations), on the internet and in the National Trotguide.)
• One person can ride in the mobile barrier and watch the start of the race you have sponsored.
• Trophy for presentation to winning connections of sponsored race.
• Framed Photo of race and trophy presentation of the race you sponsor.
• 8 tickets to the Annual HBNSW Awards Night Dinner which includes course entry, buffet dinner and race books.
• Trophy for Award you have sponsored for the HBNSW Awards Night.
• Erection of banner (supplied by sponsor) at HBNSW Awards Night.
• Your logo displayed on the Presentation Slideshow at the Awards Night, opportunity to place promotional items on tables at the Awards Night.
• Your logo on our website (with a link to your website) on our website www.harnessbreedersnsw.com.au for 12 months which receives over 4,000 views per quarter. If you require further information, don’t hesitate to contact us: through our Website, Facebook, Email: hbrnsw@gmail.com or call Flora Robson on 0412 121 275.
MILLION DOLLAR CAM SIRES MILLION DOLLAR SON
Yirribee Stud is excited by the prospects of their champion
stallion Million Dollar Cam who is continually gathering
winners to his progeny’s list. P H SUPERCAM (MILLION DOLLAR CAM) overcame a first over journey to score in the seventh annual harness racing Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Saturday night The Jeff Bamond Jr. trainee drew post position four and after leaving to get away third, came first over on the race’s favorite DANCIN YANKEE (Jim Morrill Jr) in the $260,000 free-for-all pace.
DANCIN YANKEE, the Saratoga track record holder after winning the 2014 Gerrity in 1:48.4, returned to town to
defend his title and came up just a neck shy of repeating. Jason Bartlett piloted P H SUPERCAM who wore down DANCIN YANKEE in the final strides to secure the win in 1:50.1, easily the fastest mile of the ’15 campaign at the Spa. DANCIN YANKEE had to settle for second while longshot DOMETHATAGAIN (BILLY DOBSON) came on to finish third.
P H SUPERCAM returned $11.20 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $33.40 and $647, respectively. The victory was the eighth in seventeen seasonal tries for millionaire pacer P H SUPERCAM
PEPPER TREE FARM
Pepper Tree Farm, situated in the fertile Lachlan valley in central west New South Wales, was established by Rob and Julie Vandyke in 1996. Since then, it has grown to be one of the leading Standardbred Studs in Australasia.
The stud is run at two properties, each with purpose built horse facilities. Pepper Tree Farm is our base with the office, stallion collection barn and foaling centre. It is home to the foaling mares, while Wynnefield, just a few kilometres away is the breeding base for the dry mares. Our facilities are modern, practical and designed for the care and safety of the horses. We provide 24 hour foaling supervision with experienced staff; breeding expertise right through to yearling sale preparation. Foaling Centre paddocks, along with small yards and shelter sheds and neo-natal treatment stables support our goal of giving the best possible start to each foal and the health and safety of their mums. Yearlings prepared at Pepper Tree Farm have a reputation for their presentation and manners and have regularly achieved top price sale results at the Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales in Sydney and Melbourne, including setting Australian record prices for both fillies and colts. Rob and Julie both have a lifetime background in horses and so bring a wealth of experience to running the Stud. Prior to commencing the stud, Rob was a Master Farrier for over 20 years including shoeing for leading Standardbred trainers such as Brian and Darren Hancock and Paul Fitzpatrick. Rob also played polocrosse including in NSW Rep Teams and also campdrafted and competed on Australian Stock Horses including winning Champion Working Horse at Sydney Royal. Julie’s father is a Veterinarian and she has ridden and competed on show horses and in dressage from an early age and is an Equestrian Australia judge for dressage. It is a passion which is continuing with their daughter, Brianna who competes in eventing. Brianna graduated from Charles Sturt University in 2012 with honours in Veterinary Science including the Equine Veterinary final year award and has just opened Pepper Tree Farm Equine Clinic offering a comprehensive equine veterinary service. Pepper Tree Farm is very proud of the many outstanding racehorses which have been produced at the farm since its inception. Already these include 23 individual Group1 winners with 43 Group 1 wins; 44 winners of more than $100,000 and 10 winners of more than $500,000 and seven recipients of Australian Pacing Awards (2YO, 3YO and Aged). We are also proud to have brought a range of world class sires to Australia for Southern Hemisphere breeders to access and proud of the impact these sires are having on our industry here. These have included seven time NSW Sire of the Year, Panorama; Australian Leading Juvenile Sire, Jennas Beach Boy and dominant world sire, Art Major. Our current sire roster continues to offer breeders the best of the Standardbred world’s bloodlines and performance with USA 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year (2009) SPORTSWRITER; USA Horse of the Year (2010) Rock N Roll Heaven and USA 3YO Pacer of the Year (2011) ROLL WITH JOE.
These exciting young sires are already making their mark in both hemispheres with SPORTSWRITER being 2014 leading First Crop Sire in Australia, USA and Canada and ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN having two individual Group 1 winners and three individual Group2 winners from his first Southern Hemisphere crop.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
