It was a tough night for New Zealand’s 2009 Horse of the Year, Auckland Reactor N, as he made his North American debut May 22 at the Meadowlands Racetrack, but trainer Kelvin Harrison took it in stride
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Auckland Reactor N, who won 25 of 31 lifetime races entering last weekend, finished sixth in an invitational field of seven. The six-year-old pacer, driven by Brian Sears, was first-over third at the three-quarters mark. He was timed in 1:49 for the mile. Real Joke won the race in 1:47.3.
“I was very happy with him,” Harrison said. “It was a big, big mile and I thought he raced good. It looks like he needed that race and I wouldn’t be surprised if he needed another one.”
Harrison said Monday he was trying to find a race for Auckland Reactor N at Harrah’s Chester on Sunday. The horse’s stakes schedule includes the Bettors Delight (June 13) at Tioga Downs as well as the Ben Franklin Pace at Chester plus events at the Meadowlands and in Canada.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.
Hes probably the first horse
Hes probably the first horse in North America to pace his first ever race on this continent sub 1:50. I'd like to have a horse like that. Go Reactor Go
It was the horses first
It was the horses first start in 5 months, the race went in 47/3 & he paced his mile in 49 flat.....Looked real bad?????? Too many negative people hoping for this horse to fail for some reason. Other than Lucky Jim he's the only horse to draw any media attention, which the game really needs & you have more people hoping he's a flop than a success. We lose too many of our potential stars to stud after their 3yo season (which needs to change imo.) & here we have one risking what probably could have been a lucrative stud career in New Zealand & Australia if he never raced again to try racing him in NA. I wish them the best of luck & hope he turns out as good or better than they hoped!
The horse didn't leave, was
The horse didn't leave, was covered up around the second turn, and looked spent half-way down the stretch. Granted, it was a fast mile, but he did not look good by any measure.