THE REAL ONE

[GlenMidby]

The Real One

Pat Lachance Stable 

A 14-year-old nearing the end of his racing career. 

A $10,000 purchase.  Life:  343  73  56  57  for $1, 655,006 in earnings in overnights. 

Set the Yonkers all age track record of 1:50 YR½ at 6, and won in 1:53.1 YR½ this year at 14.

The Real One certainly is and always was the real deal. 

[gh2009]

Would have earned alot more with a good driver, and if Pat Lachance left the rail more often.

[Newt Lobell]

Would have earned alot more with a good driver, and if Pat Lachance left the rail more often.

That is how to manage an elite racehorse to 14 years old.

[GlenMidby]

Would have earned alot more if Pat Lachance left the rail more often.

  Perhaps.  But maybe the way he was raced had a lot to do with why he is still out there competing at 14.   

[gh2009]

He may have been able to earn that amount by age 10 and if he went bad, he could just retire him. It's always better to earn as much as you can as early as you can because you never know what might happen in the future.

[GlenMidby]

  He may have been able to earn that amount by age 10 and if he went bad, he could just retire him. It's always better to earn as much as you can as early as you can because you never know what might happen in the future.

Uh sure, ok.  Lachance spoke to that point in a 2020 DRF piece - read between the lines; it is pretty clear what he was referring to.   

"The trainers I'm racing against have changed," Lachance said with purpose. "It's a more level playing field because of it."

Most of Lachance's success has come over the Yonkers half-mile track where in the past he had to drive horses in a way that irked many followers. "People would get on me for sitting in," Lachance said. "There was nothing else I could do in trying to chase horses that were going that fast."  Now that some of the leading trainers at Yonkers in past years have been sidelined by legal issues, Lachance and his stable have flourished and pretty much done so in varied classes, both trotting and pacing.

https://www.drf.com/news/harness-different-competition-leads-increased-success-lachance

[gh2009]

Even so, I still think he's winning at about the same % he always has, because as one group of cheater disappears, they're replaced by new ones.

[Newt Lobell]

With the high purse structure at Yonkers, the goal is to race and keep your horse sound for as long as possible. The cheating trainers don’t subscribe to this. They just replace them.

I hail Pat Lachance for his horsemanship with this iron tough warrior.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Pat had a lot to say about the not level playing field. He's another player looking to do the best he can and while I am sure everyone has some "edge" over hay, oats, and water, Pat's got good genes, LOL. Having his dad in the barn, even here and there, will never hurt.

[GlenMidby]

Pat had a lot to say about the not level playing field. He's another player looking to do the best he can and while I am sure everyone has some "edge" over hay, oats, and water, Pat's got good genes, LOL. Having his dad in the barn, even here and there, will never hurt.

  If you haven't seen it already, I think you will enjoy this Hoof Beats feature.  https://ustrottingnews.com/out-of-the-spotlight/

[Grandstand Handicapper]

  If you haven't seen it already, I think you will enjoy this Hoof Beats feature.  https://ustrottingnews.com/out-of-the-spotlight/

I remember that article. Thanks for posting it. Good read. It was very interesting how Mike actually retired, no announcement, no accolades, no last hurrah, etc. He just packed up his locker one last time, got in the car, and told his wife, that's it, I'm done. I guess for those who know Mike, it shouldn't be such a surprise. Mike was an extremely, extremely tough competitor. Glad to see he's lightened up a bit in retirement, LOL.

[GlenMidby]

The Real One is in to go next Tuesday, YR Race 9, he drew the rail in NW $5,000 L5. 

I know, there are 2 full months to go, but could this be it?  Will Lachance look to win and send that old boy out a winner?

The owner (Helene Fillion) sent then 4-year-old The Real One down to Lachance in June 2014.  I still remember his first YR start (June 21, 2014, NW $12,000 L6).

I went back and watched the replay to refresh my aging memory.   

From post 4 he got away 3rd and Lachance watched American Venture (Brennan) cut out sizzling fractions 26.3, 54.2, 1:22.4 only to stop to a walk just passed the ¾ pole.  Meanwhile, Lachance had already circled the fading rail horse (who had gotten away 2nd) and steered The Real One to an easy 4 length win in 1:52 flat.  I remember turning to a sportswriter pal of mine that night and saying, “look at this thing.” 

The then 4-year-old gelding would go on to similarly win his next 2 YR starts (NW $25,000 L6 and NW $32,500 L6), banking $37,500 in his first 3 starts.  Not bad.   

I have been a harness racing fan since I was a kid going to Yonkers and Roosevelt until they shuttered the latter, when the future Meadowlands was still a Seagull infested dump (the gulls still show up).   

As a fan, some otherwise uncelebrated horses stick with you.  I really enjoyed watching The Real One over the years, to me he was and still is the hard trying kind of horse that is easy (and fun) to cheer for.  A $10,000 purchase that is still going to the gate and competing at 14, and will retire not owing anyone a dime.