Southland based harness racing stallion Washington VC died on Friday morning at Bryleigh Stud near Edendale, his home for twenty four years.

“He was neighing. Something wasn’t quite right. I led him out to his paddock, he lay down and never got up. It was almost certainly a heart attack. It was my dream way for him to die because you don’t want to see them cast or with a broken leg,” said his owner Keith Norman.

The Presidential Ball stallion was 28 and remarkably his progeny won 28 Group One races.

“That’s unbelievable for a stallion based in Southland. Twenty four years he’s been here so he’s part of the family. He could have been sold to Australia many times over, but we always said he looked after us so we’ll look after him”.

His last service was January 15^th 2020 so his last foals are now three year olds.

Washington VC was brought to New Zealand by Keith and Tracey Norman.

“I had The Gladiator, and we were battling with him. Old age had caught up with Son Of Afella so we were on the lookout. We had plenty of offers from America. I got put onto Washington VC who had just won the Adios but had pulled up lame afterwards. He was out spelling and we put an offer in for him. There was competition from other studs, but we got him.”

He was bought outright by the Normans but soon syndicated.

“On the trip over he was syndicated to a group of Southlanders like Peter McKnight, Mark O’Connor, Syd Brown and Alex Milne. Brian West from Christchurch also had a share. Washington had thirty six shares and I owned eighteen of them.”

Not only did he leave top end pacers such as I’m Themightyquinn and I’m Victorious, he also left a lot of good bread and butter horses that were very saleable to Australia.

“He’s been unbelievable like that. My brother (Brian) relied on selling them. I’ve sold them forever and I can’t complain about the money I’ve made from them (laughter). Any Washington that had been to the trials and shown any promise the Aussies would be on the phone straight away. In New Zealand the Washingtons have won about 10 million whereas in Aussie they’ve won about 20 million. Mind you that’s because they bought the best ones.”

Undoubtedly I’m Themightyquinn was his standout.

He won fifty eight of his one hundred and eleven starts earning $4,567,456. His wins include three WA Pacing Cups, two Interdominion Grand Finals, two Fremantle Cups, A Blacks A Fake and a Cranbourne Cup, all Group One races.

“He’s the greatest stake earner ever by a New Zealand stallion.”

I’m Victorious bred by the Normans was another flagship horse by Washington VC.

The gelding qualified for Norman in May 2011 and was sold to Tim Butt. He went on to win three Group One races; The WA Derby, the Fremantle Cup and the Four Year Old Nugget. He won twenty two of his thirty four starts and banked $876,137.

“He could have been anything, but he cut his leg in the Interdominion Final. It was his tendon and he never raced again.”

Other good winners for the stallion were Georgetown who recorded twenty two wins including the G1 Eurodrive Winter Cup and earnings of $673,283, Report For Duty, forty seven wins and $1,038,537, Dasher VC who had twenty one wins including the G1 Golden Nugget and the G1 Fremantle Cup, and earned $639,752. Hokonui Ben achieved twenty five wins including the G1 WA Pacing Cup and earned $685, 377.

Foreal and It’s Ella were his best two fillies. Foreal won eighteen races including three Group Ones – The Northern Oaks, the NSW Oaks and the Ladyship Mile while It’s Ella won eighteen and $291,639. Her wins included the G2 Premier Mares Championship twice, and the G1 New Zealand Breeders Stakes.

At stud Washington VC attracted a wide range of mares by a variety of stallions.

“He crosses brilliantly with Soky’s Atom mares but in saying that, of his 450 winners, 119 were from different stallions which was incredible because you wouldn’t think there would be that many stallions around.”

I’m Themightyquinn, I’m Victorious, Smarter VC and Report For Duty were all out of Soky’s Atom mares.

As a broodmare sire Washington VC left Field Marshal and Locharburn.

Field Marshal who was out of Foreal won three Group One races in New Zealand – The Taylor Mile, New Zealand Messenger and Four Year Old Emerald whilst in Australia he won the Group One Freemantle Pacing Cup and the Group One Miracle Mile in 1-46.9.

“He’s still the fastest horse in Australasia.”

Locharburn won fourteen races which included the Group One New Zealand Derby and the Group One Easter Cup.

“I’m just weaning a foal by him now (Loch Nessy). The only reason I went to him is because Locharburn is out of a Washington mare. That’s my last little bit of loyalty.”

With Washington VC’s successes and with his stock winning all over Australasia, he provided the Normans with many thrills and memories over many years.

Keith say a major one was Field Marshal winning the G2 Superstars Championship at Addington with Locharburn running second.

During the thirty plus years Keith and Tracey have operated Bryleigh Stud, they’ve seen major changes in the sport in the south.

“When I started the stud in 1989 we were one of twelve studs in Southland. Now there is only one left.”

The passing of Washington VC will leave a huge gap in Keith and Tracey Norman’s life because for twenty four years he was in the same paddock, next to the house.

“Even when he retired I didn’t want him to get hurt. We had a routine of carrots every day and his yard cleaned out. One funny thing about him was that he’d only eat lucerne, which is expensive. He wouldn’t touch meadow hay so I’ve been getting lucerne hay from Central Otago forever.”

Rest in peace Washington VC, you did well.

And as a fitting tribute to his great Southland sire and a salute to Keith and Tracey, Superfast a son of Washington VC bred and owned by them, won the last race at Ascot Park today.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

Washington won in walk-off fashion over Indiana softball on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Columbia Regional at Missouri Softball Stadium. 

The Hoosiers were down to their last out in the seventh, but tied the game on a RBI double from Avery Parker only to give up the lead in the bottom of inning — freshman Giselle Alvarez hit a double on a 3-2 count and two outs — with Sophie Kleiman taking the loss in relief. 

Indiana (40-19) lost 8-7 to a Huskies team that had lost four straight games coming into the NCAA tournament and six of their last seven. The loss sets up an elimination game for the Hoosiers on Saturday against the loser of the game between Missouri and Omaha on Friday night. 

How to watch: How to watch Indiana softball on TV in the Columbia Regional of the NCAA Tournament

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Indiana softball can’t hold onto the lead

Indiana pounced on Washington ace Ruby Meylan when she entered the game in the fifth inning.

The Hoosiers limited two-time first-team All-Pac 12 pitcher to the shortest appearance of her career (she only recorded two outs) to take their first lead of the game with four runs in the inning.

Meylan entered the game in the fifth with her team leading 4-1 and the bottom of the order coming up. 

Cora Bassett and Brooke Benson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Washington allowed Bassett to score on a miscue in the infield when catcher Sydney Stewart tried to throw to second base and Meylan thought she was throwing back to the mound. 

The ball bounced off Meylan’s glove and the Hoosiers cut the lead to 4-2. Taylor Minnick followed that up with an RBI double.

Meylan exited the game after getting only two outs. It’s the first time in her career she didn’t pitch at least a full inning. 

Lopez re-entered the game and Stone crushed a two-run home run on the first pitch she saw to give Indiana a 5-4 lead. Freshman Alex Cooper hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning off the top of the center field wall. 

Washington rallied in the sixth inning. 

Olivia Johnson knocked in two runs with a shallow single to right field to tie the game 6-6. The Huskies scored the go-ahead run on what looked like a sure out at second base.  

The Hoosiers tried to get the lead runner when Brooklyn Carter sent a softly hit ball to first base, but the throw bounced off Brooke Benson’s glove at second and Johnson just kept on running as the shortstop held onto the ball in the outfield. 

Indiana was credited with two fielding errors on the play. 

Indiana softball falls behind early 

Washington went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second. 

Huskies first baseman Brooke Nelson worked a leadoff walk off starting pitcher Brianna Copelan and scored on a double from Alana Johnson. Johnson reached third on a throwing error on the play and scored on Kinsey Fiedler’s sacrifice fly to center. 

Indiana got on the board in the top of the fourth when Stone crushed the second pitch she saw off the fence in center field for her first triple of the season (fourth of her career). Aly VanBrandt laid down a perfect suicide squeeze in front of the plate that scored pinch runner Cassidy Kettleman.

The momentum was short-lived. 

Washington led off the bottom of the inning with three straight hits that scored a pair of runs. Johnson led off the inning with another double and scored on an RBI triple from Fielder that landed just outside of the outstretched glove of Kettleman in center. 

Indiana made a pitching change after Sydney Stewart hit an RBI single with Sophie Kleiman replacing Copeland. Copeland gave up six hits (three extra-base hits) and a walk in three innings. 

Kleiman worked out of the jam thanks in part to a nice catch in foul territory on the first base line from Stone. 

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) – The 17th annual Washington County K9 Trials will be held this Saturday. Along with the free competition will be a community fair where you can pick up some free doggie treats made by a group of local kids.

Sergeant Eamon O’Reilly is with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He’s a patrol supervisor and along with his K9 partner Radar is part of the Tactical Negotiations team, where most interactions with the public are far from easy.

“We do help people, but we interact with people on their worst day,” Sgt. O’Reilly said.

But the law enforcement duo is probably best known for their Instagram page “Deputy Dog Radar,” where the two share treats, both for humans and for dogs.

They have a worldwide following, including Aloha High School’s Structure Routine Center. So instructors invited the pair to come visit their class and sample their homemade treats called “Doggie Dots.”

“It was just really neat to me to see the passion the kids had for making the dog treats and how much fun they had sharing with me,” Sgt. O’Reilly said.

Rourke Lowe teaches the class of about 11 special education students.

“My job is to work on all of the academic basics but we also do things like life skills and community living and out of those class periods became an idea for dog treats,” Lowe said.

For about a year now, the kids take three simple ingredients for each batch. They make their own oat flour and peanut butter, then add either banana or pumpkin. They shape them, bake them, then package and sell them – mostly to school staff.

It’s not a money-making business, but the program needs money to continue and to start other programs that give the students opportunities to learn and be included.

“That if we give them those skills and give them those opportunities here and we’re able to work on them and fine tune them that might be a better step or a good next step for them outside,” Lowe said.

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The program really spoke to Sgt. O’Reilly who posted about the treats on Instagram and put a link to the Beaverton Education Foundation fundraising campaign in his bio. He says he loves being a part of helping these students be successful.

“I just thought, I have this opportunity to help them and the people who are fans of Radar are wonderful people,” he said. “They have shown generosity in the past and I thought they will also love this idea.”

And his fans do love it. The fundraiser has more than doubled its original goal so the class can not only continue to make the doggie treats but they also plan to buy and operate a coffee cart.

If you would like to donate, click here.

The instructor Mr. Lowe will be at the K9 Trials at the Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday with 100 bags of Doggie Dots to give away for free, along with recipe cards. Sgt. O’Reilly and K9 Radar will also be there.

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