RED MEADOWS -- ONE OF THE GREATS
--by Jackie Cowan
With the opening of the road season at Ballygurteen just around the corner, it seems a good time to look back at the career of Red Meadows. A former multiple champion on turf/track, Red Meadows, owned by Mike, Gerry and Tim Kelleher from Macroom, embarked on a new stage of his racing life at Ballygurteen in December, 1999. With usual pilot, Pamela Hickey, also racing on the road for the first time, Red Meadows contested the Grade A. The pair got up to pip favourite, Red Admiral, on the line, and on their third start, won the All-Ireland Road Championship at Colomane in January, 2000. Pamela had to wait out a lengthy stewards' enquiry, but the placings remained unchanged.
Red Meadows had further road wins, but in January of this year, connections decided to retire their grand veteran, now fourteen, from racing. At first, Tim Kelleher says, the plan was for him to be hunted by a local girl, but her studies did not allow her to give him enough time. Instead, this versatile pacer is now based at Rahard Stud, near Fermoy, where he is employed as a lead horse for young, just broken point-to-pointers, where his experience gives them confidence. Part of his job is leading the youngsters over poles and low jumps, and Tim adds that Tom Lombard, well known in point-to-point circles, feels Red Meadows is an important part of his team.
The Kelleher brothers bought Red Meadows ('88, Creativity-Rascal) late in 1993 from the Newtown Stud. Among his many harness successes were the final of the Maxol Grand Prix Handicap at Central Track in May, 1994; All-Ireland Harness Championship at Dunmanway in 1995, a free for all at Central Track in 1996, where, with Damian Lacey, he also won the event for veteran drivers. In almost of his races, Red Meadows was driven by trainer, Mike Kelleher, but in 1997, when he was awarded the All-Ireland Harness at Ballineen (when Darkhill Lane was disqualified), he was driven by Donal Murphy.
To many, Red Meadows was even better under saddle. The Kellehers are very good at finding new, promising jockeys, and in 1994, his local debut season, Red Meadows won the All Ireland Saddle at Drimoleague, with novice jockey, Denis Counihan from Macroom. The pair were sent off at 8/1, and won by half a length from Blackwell Peter. This was a great day for young Denis, as he achieved a treble, as he also won with the Kellehers' other charge, Rawhide, in Grade D, and with veteran, Tolka Cottage in Grade C. Among this partnership's notable victories was the Laddie From Leap in 1995, where, after a ding-dong battle, they got the better of hot favourites, Limed Hazard and Michael Williamson. In 1996, in the Irish Trotting Cup at Ballabuidhe, Red Meadows, this time with David Hill up, fended off the odds-on Saunders Spirit for a truly gutsy win.
Red Meadows was turf/track horse of the year in 1997, Pamela Hickey's first season. After earlier wins, Pamela won the All-Ireland Saddle at Drimoleague, the first leg of a championship double for Red Meadows. This combination went on to visit the winner's enclosure many times, including a satisfying Grade A & B Saddle on their home turf in Macroom. They continued in 1998, including the Laddie From Leap, and went down by just a head to Beauty's Forte in the saddle championship at Dunmanway.
Now Red Meadows is on his third career, calming down the skittish thoroughbred youngsters. As Tim says "a fitting and dignified retirement" for a great standardbred.