Young Quinn
Encyclopedia
Young Quinn a New Zealand
standardbred racehorse was successful in period where his competition in the sport of trotting was particularly strong. Foaled in 1969, he was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick by Hal Tryax (USA). Named after Brian "Snow" Quinn a champion New Zealand sheep shearer
, he was trained and driven by the great Charles Stewart Hunter (Charlie)
. He was nicknamed 'Garbage' as a result of his habit of eating anything in sight, as a young horse. It was later revealed by cardiograph tests that Young Quinn's heart weighed 13 lb, only 1 lb less than that of the immortal racehorse Phar Lap.
. He was however defeated by Robalan
in the New Zealand Trotting Cup
in 1974, when Robalan was at the peak of his career. Earlier that year, he had won the Auckland Trotting Cup
.
, Australia
's premier mile, at Harold Park
he did the almost impossible - he won from barrier six! - the outside draw on a very tight track. To draw six was assumed that a horse, no matter how good, had no chance in this race. He did prevail, beating the two acknowledged Australian champions of the time, Paleface Adios
and Hondo Grattan
. The Inter Dominion
was held in Auckland
, New Zealand
that year and although a strong team of Australian pacers including Hondo Grattan
and Paleface Adios
, plus Just Too Good and Royal Gaze made the trip across the Tasman, they were again beaten by Young Quinn. He won the three heats and the Pacer's final, beating locals Hi Foyle and Speedy Guest. Starting as a short priced favourite in the final, he was driven by John Langdon
, following the injury to his regular driver and trainer Charlie Hunter
. Ironically, Langdon also won the Trotter's section of the Inter Dominion driving the Hunter trained Castleton's Pride. These two wins gained Langdon a spot on the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
. Young Quinn later raced in the United States
and Canada
with considerable success which included at least one victory over the USA champion of the day Rambling Willie
, until returning to New Zealand in 1980 for a few starts prior to being retired.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
standardbred racehorse was successful in period where his competition in the sport of trotting was particularly strong. Foaled in 1969, he was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick by Hal Tryax (USA). Named after Brian "Snow" Quinn a champion New Zealand sheep shearer
Sheep shearer
A sheep shearer is a worker who uses -blade or machine shears to remove wool from domestic sheep during crutching or shearing.-History:...
, he was trained and driven by the great Charles Stewart Hunter (Charlie)
Charlie Hunter (trainer)
Charlie Hunter or C S Hunter was a trainer and driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with champions such as Young Quinn. Hunter topped the New Zealand trainer's list in the 1967/68 and 1973/74 seasons, and was first equal in the 1974/75 season....
. He was nicknamed 'Garbage' as a result of his habit of eating anything in sight, as a young horse. It was later revealed by cardiograph tests that Young Quinn's heart weighed 13 lb, only 1 lb less than that of the immortal racehorse Phar Lap.
Racing career
Young Quinn had very good statistics of 133 starts, for 59 wins and 36 placings for NZ$752,587 in stakemoney. His record of beating off strong rivals and big names was noticed by the public, and thus he was sometimes sent out odds on. He raced against many good horses of the time like Arapaho and RobalanRobalan
Robalan was a champion New Zealand pacer Standardbred horse, known as "Robbers". He is notable in that he won two NZ Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race in New Zealand, for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for...
. He was however defeated by Robalan
Robalan
Robalan was a champion New Zealand pacer Standardbred horse, known as "Robbers". He is notable in that he won two NZ Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race in New Zealand, for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for...
in the New Zealand Trotting Cup
New Zealand Trotting Cup
The New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. the prize was NZ$750,000, the largest prize for a...
in 1974, when Robalan was at the peak of his career. Earlier that year, he had won the Auckland Trotting Cup
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
.
International racing
In the 1975 Miracle MileMiracle Mile
-Places in the United States:*Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, a district of Los Angeles*Miracle Mile , New York, a premium shopping district on the North Shore of Long Island*Miracle Mile , a shopping area in Coral Gables, Florida...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's premier mile, at Harold Park
Harold Park
Harold Park is a place in the London Borough of Havering....
he did the almost impossible - he won from barrier six! - the outside draw on a very tight track. To draw six was assumed that a horse, no matter how good, had no chance in this race. He did prevail, beating the two acknowledged Australian champions of the time, Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
and Hondo Grattan
Hondo Grattan
Hondo Grattan was a Standardbred pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully defend an Inter Dominion title. Hondo Grattan was the first horse in Australia to win...
. The Inter Dominion
Inter Dominion
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand...
was held in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
that year and although a strong team of Australian pacers including Hondo Grattan
Hondo Grattan
Hondo Grattan was a Standardbred pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully defend an Inter Dominion title. Hondo Grattan was the first horse in Australia to win...
and Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
, plus Just Too Good and Royal Gaze made the trip across the Tasman, they were again beaten by Young Quinn. He won the three heats and the Pacer's final, beating locals Hi Foyle and Speedy Guest. Starting as a short priced favourite in the final, he was driven by John Langdon
John Langdon (driver)
John Langdon is a former driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and was a leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand....
, following the injury to his regular driver and trainer Charlie Hunter
Charlie Hunter (trainer)
Charlie Hunter or C S Hunter was a trainer and driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with champions such as Young Quinn. Hunter topped the New Zealand trainer's list in the 1967/68 and 1973/74 seasons, and was first equal in the 1974/75 season....
. Ironically, Langdon also won the Trotter's section of the Inter Dominion driving the Hunter trained Castleton's Pride. These two wins gained Langdon a spot on the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
The Inter Dominion Hall of Fame is an organization created to recognise and honour those whose achievements have enriched the world of the Harness racing industry, particularly in the Inter Dominion series. The Inter Dominion is a horse racing series for standardbred horses which takes place every...
. Young Quinn later raced in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with considerable success which included at least one victory over the USA champion of the day Rambling Willie
Rambling Willie
Rambling Willie was a harness racing horse, more specifically a bay pacing gelding sired by Rambling Fury and out of Meadow Belle by Meadow Gold. He was trained and driven by Bob Farrington....
, until returning to New Zealand in 1980 for a few starts prior to being retired.