CASEY B - A PROFILE OF THE PEOPLE'S FAVOURITE
by Jackie Cowan
Ballygurteen 2004
With the 2008 road trotting championship nearly upon us, it seems a good time to look back at the career of Casey B, a local bred who worked his way up the ranks and who, as he reached the top echelon, was competing against imported hotpots. Casey B contested five road All-Irelands and came heartbreakingly close to winning one.
Casey B was foaled in 1996 at the Hill family farm at Droumillihy, Leap. His dam was great racemare, Adora's Roberta, among whose victories was the All-Ireland harness championship at Ballabuidhe in 1989. His sire was Blackwell Peter, who was a multiple All-Ireland winner on turf. The colt, a classic bay with no speck of white, was eventually named Casey B -- Casey after an earlier horse of Petey Hill, Casey Jones, and the B came from Blackwell.
Casey B's first win was a harness race at Dunmanway, when he was a three-year-old and was driven by ace horseman, Patrick O'Driscoll. He was a four-year-old when he ran his first road race, at Bantry, under Michael Williamson. His first road win, in novice, was that same season, when he scored at Ownahincha, ridden by Petey himself. Other jockeys associated with Casey B were John Sheehy, John McSweeney, David Brickley, Denis Cremin and Patrick Hill.
Casey B was an out-and-out stayer, and some courses suited him better than others. He liked Dunmanway, where in 2006, he came home in front of titans, He's The Man and Stoneriggs Rascal. He performed well in Drimoleague, too, having won Grade D there, with John Sheehy up, in 2001. One of Casey B's most satisfying wins was also at Drimoleague in 2004. When Jim McCarthy was giving his speech as chairman of the Drimoleague Race Committee, he said that he really fancied Casey B to win the feature, the Grade A. Patrick Hill was riding him for only the second time - their first collaboration had been in Ballygurteen earlier in the month. Casey B was sent off at 10/1; the punters could not see beyond odds-on Bon Daniel. At the business end, Peak's Prophet had taken it up from Bon Daniel, who was displaying lack of interest. Casey B came with a late run to easily reel in Peak's Prophet.
Durrus 2003
Ah, Bon Daniel................The one horse that stood in the way of All-Ireland glory for Casey B. That was in 2005, when Casey B, with Patrick in the plate, came to within a length of pinning back Bon Daniel. Casey B finished fourth in the 2007 renewal, far from disgraced behind Fidlin, Hilltop Tuck and Coalford Victory. Casey B had many other wins on the road, where he was mostly campaigned. His victories in the summer season included a dead-heat in Novice & E saddle with Stoneriggs Supreme, and a victory over her on their next meeting. Now that's something that not many can lay claim to!
Casey B ran his last race at Skibbereen late in January, where he finished 4th behind Driven Storm in Grade A. He was turned out to perfection, resplendent in plaited mane and traced tail, interwoven with ribbons of gold and blue, the Hill family's colours. Casey B will live out his retirement at home. While not necessarily the easiest of inmates, he loves Anne, the up-and-coming harness driver, and youngest member of the Hill family, who can do anything with him.
Casey B has often been called the perfect West Cork horse. All members of the family were involved with him; he seldom missed a race meeting; almost always ran his heart out, and rarely came home without a pay-cheque. We should all be so lucky as to have one like him!
Ballylickey 2006