Perth entrepreneur and harness breeder-owner Peter Hayes certainly knows what life is like in the fast lane.
Hayes worked as a bookmaker at Gloucester Park and as a manager and promoter of rock and roll music bands including Weddings, Parties, Anything, a leading folk rock band in Melbourne in the 1980’s and ’90’s.
Since 2001 Hayes has been the mine host of the Oxford Hotel, a popular watering hole in the inner Perth suburb of Leederville.
He is also dabbling in the breeding and racing of standardbreds.
“I love the game. It’s in my blood. My family has probably been involved in the sport for 80 or 90 years,” Peter said, after watching his homebred Always Be Blakey salute at Melton last Saturday.
Perhaps the best horse bred and raced by Peter and his brothers Kevin and Dennis was Show Of Hands, who won a couple of Victorian country cups and contested the 2001 Brisbane Inter Dominion before being exported to North America.
However, a partnership formed 12 years ago with drinking buddies Murray James and Dave Maffey has elevated the Perth publican to a whole new level in harness racing.
The trio bred and own four of the brightest young stars of Australian racing in the NSW Breeders Challenge winners Golly Gee Fellas and Sugar Pie Honey, the dual Tasmanian Beautide winner and Eureka contestant Fighter Command and the dual Group 1 winning trotter London To A Brick.
They have totted up 44 wins and more than $1 million in stakes between them.
And, the best may be yet to come!
The partners are currently breeding from Spitfire Rose, the dam of Fighter Command and herself a dual Listed winner, and Sugar For My Honey, a half-sister to Sugar Pie Honey.
“Sugar For My Honey’s first foal is a yearling colt which is being broken in by Rickie Alchin. Spitfire Rose has a two-year-old filly by Huntsville with Alchin, a yearling colt by Downbytheseaside and a filly foal by Always B Miki,” Hayes said.
Peter is also breeding from a couple of well bred mares he purchased from New Zealand in his own right in Bellagio Lover, the dam of three sub 2:00 winners, and Treacherous Miss, a granddaughter of the four-time Oaks winner Tupelo Rose.
“Bellagio Lover has a two-year-old colt by Downbytheseaside with Jess Tubbs,” he said.
“We’re flirting with getting a couple of really good ones and we are certainly round about the place. I’m still out there trying to find a champion.”
- The Alabar Bloodstock stallion Rock N Roll Heaven took the siring honours at Melton with a winning double with Triple Rock Saint and Rolinginthedeep
- Globetrotting horseman Kevin Chisholm bred and races the promising Vincheska, a winner at the day meeting at Bendigo
- Former Harness Racing Victoria board member Peter Bourke brought out a winner at Ballarat in Super Code, a gelding he races with the Holloway family
