The horses carrying the Christmas spirit

It’s that time of year – The fat man in the red suit. Family arguments. Sleeping off Christmas dinner.

Harness racing horse owners have supported the Christmas theme when naming their horses too!

Here’s a list of notable horses (based out of New Zealand) that shared a little bit of festive spirit through their names.

Santa

There’s been two registered ‘Santa’ in times gone by. Both of which failed to deliver (have any race day starts) for any well-behaved girls, boys or punters.

Santa Claus

A number of ownership groups have gone all out to celebrate the rotund man of Christmas on the track. Despite being out of a 5 race-winning mare, a 24 start – 1 win career was all a son of Johnny Globe could muster in the late 1960’s. On the thoroughbred side of things Santa Claus (Chamossaire / Aunt Clara) raced with distinction in the UK and Ireland, being named British Horse of the Year in 1964.

The Present Maker

Racing initially out of the Ann-Marie and Jack Best stable, The Present Maker (The Pres) is proving a tractable type, winning on debut at Addington in June of 2022 and then backing up that maiden victory by mastering a field at Nelson in January of 2023. Lifetime earnings 13’000

THE PRESENT MAKER ADDINGTON WIN REPLAY

Yuletide

There’s been a couple of notable performers named Yuletide – at least on the books in NZ. A son of Vance Hanover met with success in the mid-1980’s, winning 5 raceday starts from 15 appearances, after which the horse was exported. His dam, Bern Jen, also left the impressive Gay Hal who won seven in her own right. A Yuletide, born in 2001, celebrated Christmas a number of times around the tracks of the South Island but only managed a solitary win at Addington, in 2007, when driven by Alex Hastie.

Rudolph

No doubt burdened by his Christmas workload this Rudolph (Majestic Chance) saw limited action around the tracks of New Zealand. Racing out of the Keith Templeton stable the horse finished last behind the Allan Beck trained Surmo Lord in January of 1989 – it proved the only race day appearance.

Xmas Joy

Racing through the early 2000’s this Xmas-inspired daughter of Holmes Hanover fashioned a sound record, notching up 3 wins and 9 minor placings from 36 starts. Her progeny carried that winning habit onwards with Xmas Joy Belle (2 wins) and Xmas Joyella (8 wins) being the most notable of her progeny… this is also the family of the four-time winner in Superfast Lad.

XMAS JOY WIN REPLAY

Jingle Belle Rock

A broodmare of some distinction. Jingle Bell Rock did manage a win at Manuwatu in the year 2000 but it’s her work as a mother that’s seen the mare become a significant contributor to racing ranks in recent years. Among her progeny are the impressive likes of Great Balls A Flying, J D Fortune (6 wins) and the flying Bettor Rock On – a listed and Group 2 placed performer in Australia. Recently Sam’s Town (Mach Three) has impressed, racking up 12 wins, many of which have been on the grass surfaces around Canterbury.

Bethlehem

Inspired by the Nativity? Out of the strong Coo Doo dam-line, Bethlehem found itself in need of some major donations of gold, frankincense and myrrh after finding no luck from 8 starts on the track. As a broodmare Bethlehem left a three-race winner in Friday (Transport Chip) with subsequent colts all failing to see the track.

As a summary it would seem that, although it’s a nice time of year, naming your next star after the celebrations surrounding the 25^th of December is no way to find success on the track.

Merry Christmas

by Harnesslink Media