You could describe harness racing as Peter Gleeson’s passion, but by his own admission, it’s his obsession.
Having become hooked on the sport as a teenager, Gleeson owns an ever-growing band of pacers, which are constantly among Australia’s best.
Gleeson’s introduction to racing came via his father Edward, who enjoyed a punt on the gallops most weekends.
“My old man was always having a bet on the thoroughbreds in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide every Saturday, but had no idea what he was doing,” Gleeson said. “But through that my brother and I started to become interested in it.
“When I was about 10 or 12 I went to school with Tim Walsh, who ended up becoming chairman of the Trotting Control Board, and with him and a couple of other kids we’d stand around talking about horses.
“That’s how I made the switch to the trots, and by the time I was 14, I had my own phone account, which I got my older brother to open for me, and would put my bets on during my lunch break.”
After working in a hardware store for a couple of years, Gleeson decided on a career in harness racing, however, his first job interview created a grim outlook on stable life.
“I got a job at a hardware store when I was 15 and would head to Jack Moore’s property to help on weekends and learn,” Gleeson said. “At 17 I went to Darkie Wilson’s stable and he tried to talk me out of it.
“He told me to get a better job as there is no money in the trots, but I was determined. He then asked if I was honest, I told him yes, and he gave me a job.
“We ended up becoming best mates until his passing. I worked there for years and was going to get my licence to drive at 23, but decided against it and moved home to Maryborough.”
Purchasing his first horse at 20, Gleeson owned and bred several handy types before an unwanted filly in Adelaide caught his eye.
Despite being a three-year-old, Hotfoot was advertised as a “broodmare only” which didn’t deter Gleeson – neither did advice from a mate.
“When I saw her advertised as broodmare only I figure there must’ve been a reason why she wasn’t going to make it to the races, but that didn’t bother me,” Gleeson said. “I liked her breeding and wanted her.
“I sent a mate to check her out for me and he said ‘she isn’t much to look at’, but I bought her anyway. Funnily enough when she got to Jack Moore’s place, and I still hadn’t seen her, he also said she wasn’t much to look at.
“She was $8000, I only had $3000, so I borrowed the other $5000 and bought her. Spending money I didn’t have never stopped me in those days.
“I got her into foal with Happy Talk while she was over there and that foal went on to win 18 races as Avant Garde.”
A few years later Hotfoot gave birth to a daughter which has become one of the most successful matrons Australia has produced.
A handy racehorse, which captured the 1999 Sires’ Stake Final at Moonee Valley, Larrakeyah Lady has proven to be a broodmare wonder.
Not only does she boast nine winners from 10 starters, her daughters are producing a host of Group One winners.
Larrakeyah Lady’s foals include Safe And Sound, Massarua, Gold Rocket and The Good Times.
Other outstanding winners tracing back to Larrakeyah Lady include Ride High, Beauty Secret, Major Secret, Rocknroll Magic, Lovelist, The Pantheist, Out To Play, High Above, Always Hot and Treachery to name a handful!
“When Larrakeyah Lady came along I offered Bruce and Craig Cameron the chance to buy into her as an unbroken yearling and we’ve been going from her stock ever since,” Gleeson said.
“She wasn’t the greatest racehorse, and was lucky to win the Sires’, but has been amazing in the breeding barn.
“She died several years ago at the ripe age of 32, but she is the gift that keeps giving as her progeny keep producing.
“I have about 62 horses, including three foals born this year, at the moment and they all trace back to her.
“Plus I have another six waiting to be foaled. I have said ‘how many horses do you have before they lock you up?”
In Bendigo tonight Larrakeyah Lady has five descendants in the two-year-old Vicbred Super Series heats and a pair in Friday’s three-year-old qualifiers in Melton.
My Bettor Half, Most Exciting, Seaside Boy, Out To Stay and Cardigan Dan are the Bendigo runners, with Let Her Roll and Beach Dancer heading to Melton.
“The Camerons bred two of those and Benstud another, but the rest are mine,” Gleeson said. “I’ll also have a couple in the four-year-old series, and without seeing the fields, there may be more from the breed going around.
“As I said, Larrakeyah Lady is the gift that keeps on giving, and now with her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters producing good winners, I can’t see any reason why it will stop.
“I’ve been hooked on the trots and breeding for a long time and that won’t stop either.”
