Harness racing's forgotten champion
CRAMMED with emotion and edge of your seat moments, Rocky IV is arguably the best sequel in the highly-successful franchise.
During one particular scene before his deadly 'exhibition bout', Apollo Creed refers to how quickly people forget champions by stating "it's crazy how people care about you when you're in that ring...but once you step out of that ring, it's like you're ancient history!"
Throughout the past few weeks it has become clear, if ever there was a harness racing version of Creed, it would be Village Kid.
Lauded during his amazing career, Village Kid was not only celebrated for his record 13 Group One triumphs, but his longevity, with the Bill Horn-trained gelding competing - and winning - against open company as a 12-year-old.
Returning for a special time trial at 13, Village Kid stopped the clock in 1:55.1 to not only better the world record for his age, but become the first pacer in Western Australia to run four successive sub 30-second quarters over a mile!
Retired with a record of 93 wins, 24 seconds and 12 thirds from 160 starts for earnings of $2,117,870, Village Kid was Australasia's richest standardbred as well as the world's richest pacing gelding.
It would appear, however, Village Kid's feats have faded out of memory and into oblivion.
In recent weeks enthusiasts have followed intensley as Leap To Fame attempted to capture Australia's 'Big Three' - A G Hunter Cup, Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile - since the latter was added to the calendar in 1967.
Initially Leap To Fame was declared to be on an historic journey as he aimed to become the first pacer to achieve the feat.
Last week, that changed to the Grant Dixon-trained stallion being on target to join Preux Chevalier as the only pacers to capture the main events.
Even after Leap To Fame's breathtaking win in the $1million Garrards-sponsored sprint, reports via all mediums - print, radio and television - confirmed the stallion was the first since Preux Chevalier 39 years ago!
That leads us to the forgotten Village Kid, which won the A G Hunter Cup, Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile in 1986.
Like Leap To Fame, Village Kid's Inter Dominion glory came at Albion Park, but the series was the third leg of his hat-trick.
Annexing the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on January 24, 1986, Village Kid then won the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on March 8, followed by his Inter Dominion Final triumph on April 19.
HOOFNOTE: Third behind Master Mood and My Lightning Blue in the November 1986 Miracle Mile, Village Kid won the 1987 edition to become the first dual Miracle Mile winner.
