31 March 2015
Peter Gadsby and Brian Lockwood were great mates, they raced Double Identity and enjoyed some great highs with the Miracle Mile winner. While the pair remained good friends, they pursued other harness racing interests several years ago. However, early last year they decided to go into partnership with trainer Harry Martin again with an unraced son of Blissfull Hall. Gadsby named him Double Event and he won three races in his first season of racing.
Tragedy struck on November 24 last year when Brian Lockwood passed away suddenly, but Double Event still races on in the colours that Double Identity made famous, yellow with dark blue hooped sleeves. The five year old resumes from a short break on Thursday night at Penrith in the first heat of the Carousel and Gadsby is hoping he can win again in memory of his good friend.
“I’ve experienced some great thrills in harness racing with my horses but some of the times my wife Wendy and I spent with Brian and his wife Shirley were unforgettable,” Gadsby said.
“We had just started racing horses together again and reliving the good old days with Double (Identity) when he passed away unexpectedly, it was terrible.”
Double Event has won three races already this year and has continued to improve with an impressive last start victory over My General Lee.
“Harry has always had an opinion of him, but he has just thrived on racing at Menangle and his last start win was very good because he rated 1:52.7 in winning.”
“I’m hoping that Double Event wins a good race in memory of Brian, and the Carousel definitely fits into that category, first though he has to qualify for the final by winning on Thursday night.”
Gadsby won the Carousel in 2005 with Smooth Crusa.
“He was a nice horse and after winning the Carousel in May of 2005 he was raced in the Tasmanian Inter Dominion less than twelve months later.”
“The Carousel is a race that is won by nice horses that’s for sure.”
Monifieth (2013), Gold King (2002), Sailors Corner (1999), Warwick Lad (1998) and Highview Ana (1996) are all former winners of the Gr. 2 event.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
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Name:
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Greg Hayes
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ghayes@hrnsw.com.au
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