HAMBLETONIAN-BOUND EILEAN DONON RACING FOR A BIGGER CAUSE

(Meadowlands Barn Notes July 28, 2004)

Every time the three-year-old trotting colt Eilean Donon steps on the track, he has a lot resting on his withers.

One of his owners, the late Joseph Taylor, dedicated his one-third share of the colt's earnings to support the work of ConQuest, a national network of clubs and camps for Catholic boys age five to 15.

Eilean Donon, who drew post three in the sixth race, the second of two $100,000 elimination heats this Saturday at the Meadowlands, could substantially help the boys in the ConQuest program if he should advance to and win the $1 million Hambletonian on August 7.
He is rated 3-1 in the morning line, the second choice behind 2003 Trotter of the Year, Cantab Hall, who is 5-2 from post 10. The top five finishers from each division qualify for the Hambletonian Final.

Eilean Donon, named for a castle in Scotland, races for Kentuckians Steve Stewart, Ben Taylor and Joe Taylor's estate. He comes into the Hambletonian elims with earnings of $287,188, of which more than $95,000 has already benefited the boys who attend the ConQuest clubs for instruction in leadership, faith and virtue.

The Stewarts and the Taylors grew up together in the same housing subdivision that was part of the original Gainesway Farm of prominent Lexington thoroughbred and standardbred breeder Clarence Gaines. Joe Taylor, Ben's father, was the Gainesway farm manager for several years.
After the Gainesway Farm was sold, the Taylor family developed Taylor Made Farms, which sits on 1,600 acres in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Although the family's operations perennially lead North American thoroughbred consignors in gross receipts, they have maintained an interest in standardbred racing, teaming with the Stewarts on Eilean Donon.

Joe Taylor died late last year in an automobile accident when he went out delivering Christmas presents to friends, neighbors and farm employees, his yearly holiday season ritual.

As a way of supporting the boys club and camp, Joe Taylor, who founded the Lexington chapter six years ago, told the priest who oversaw the ConQuest program that he would donate every penny his share of Eilean Donon earned to them. His estate will continue the agreement through the end of Eilean Donon's racing career, according to one of his sons, Duncan.

"Joe was extremely religious and just loved kids," said Robert Stewart, who trains Eilean Donon for his brother, Steve, and the Taylors. "He had 21 grandkids. When he told this priest he was donating his third of what the horse made to the boys club, the priest said 'Oh, that's nice.' As the horse starting making money, they got very interested in how he was doing.

"Ben Taylor, Joe's son, got involved in harness racing through his dad," continued Stewart. "He's getting interested in it more and more, and follows what's happening in the sport. He likes the idea that the standardbreds race a lot more often than the thoroughbreds. Eilean Donon has been a lot of fun."

In many ways, Eilean Donon is lucky just to be competing for one of 10 spots in the Hambletonian, harness racing's premier event for three-year-old trotters. He underwent emergency surgery for a scrotal hernia and the removal of one testicle on July 7 at the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, New Jersey. Dr. Patty Hogan, who also treated Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones when he was badly injured in a starting gate accident last year, performed the surgery on Eilean Donon.

After a few days of stall rest and hand walking, Eilean Donon was back in training. He returned on July 23 at the Meadowlands, winning a Hambletonian prep impressively in a career best 1:54 on a sloppy track.

In addition to his owners and the boys in the ConQuest club in Kentucky, the colt has developed a cheering squad in the Scottish Highlands, the staff at Eilean Donan Castle.

"My brother, Steve, visited the castle during a vacation in Scotland," said Bob Stewart. "We're Scottish, although I don't know how far back the family tree goes. Steve has named several foals of Eilean Donon's dam, Legend Queen, after castles such as Buckingham, Myramast, and Grendel."

Eilean Donan [a different spelling than the colt] is a popular tourist destination in Dornie by the Kyle of Lochalsh. The name [which is Gaelic for island of Donan] was established when St. Donan brought Christianity to the area in 600 AD. A 20-year reconstruction project of the castle was completed in 1932, and it has been used as a location for weddings and movies and television [including the Highlander] over the years.

"We hope the horse does really well and maybe you should put one up there to St. Donan for the fastest hooves in the race," said castle keeper Rod Stenson.

When Stenson learned of Eilean Donon's surgery a few weeks ago, he remarked: "I never expected to be taking such an active interest in the life of a trotting colt, but we all send him wishes for a speedy recovery."

Apparently those good wishes worked.

"He came out of the race fine and I was real happy with how he performed," said trainer Bob Stewart. "I thought our draw for the eliminations was pretty good, too. We dodged three of the top four colts [Cash Hall, Windsong's Legacy, and Tom Ridge, who are in the other division], and the colt we have to beat, Cantab Hall, drew the 10-hole.
Plus, we get to keep [driver] John Campbell in the sulky for another week since Cash Hall is in the other division."

3rd Race Saturday -- $100,000 Hambletonian Elimination
[post time 5:43 p.m.]
Hd #, PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, 7, Cash Hall, John Campbell, Robert McIntosh, 2-1
1A, 10, Show Me The Monet, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell, 2-1
2, 1, American Mike, David Miller, Charlie Norris, 10-1
3, 2, Justice Hall, Jim Morrill Jr., C. Kevin Thomas, 15-1
4, 3, Hurri Kane Billy G, Daniel Dube, John McDermott, 10-1
5, 4, Windsong's Legacy, Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 5-2
6, 5, Al Dente Hanover, Cat Manzi, Joe Caraluzzi, 12-1
7, 6, Tom Ridge, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 5-1
8, 8, Rocky Balboa, George Brennan, Charles Sylvester, 8-1
9, 9, Blushfire, Mike Lachance, Paul Jessop, 20-1

6th Race Saturday -- $100,000 Hambletonian Elimination
[post time 6:49 p.m.]
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, Lantern's Law, Trevor Ritchie, Jim Campbell, 5-1
2, Solomon Blue Chip, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer, 12-1
3, Eilean Donon, John Campbell, Robert Stewart, 3-1
4, Coventry, Doug R. Ackerman, Doug Ackerman, 10-1
5, Sand Vic, David Miller, Jim Arledge Jr., 8-1
6, Cincinnati Kid, Eric Ledford, Anne Schlichtig, 12-1 7
, Castle of Fortune, Jim Morrill Jr., Charlie Norris, 20-1
8, Classical Man, Luc Ouellette, Dave Sabatelli, 10-1
9, Southwind Elian, Catello Manzi, Kevin McDermott, 15-1
10, Cantab Hall, Mike Lachance, Ron Gurfein, 5-2

 
EATON ROAD KILL'S SEASON LIKELY OVER
Eaton Road Kill, it was learned Wednesday afternoon, will be a late scratch from the $30,000 winners over pace, the seventh race on Saturday at the Meadowlands.
The six-year-old gelded son of Cambest was "not himself'," according to trainer Mark Harder and owner Gregg Pistochini.

"This is all likelihood will end his season," said Pistochini. "In two weeks, we'll see if he is feeling good and possibly put him in the Canadian Pacing Derby. That would be it. If not, then he'll aim for next year at the Meadowlands and be fully staked to all the big events."
Eaton Road Kill, who was supplemented for $62,500 to the Breeders Crown Open Pace, failed to make Saturday's final, finishing sixth in last week's elimination race.

This year he has 12 wins, four seconds and one third from 22 starts for earnings of $366,568. He equaled the 1:48 world record mile for geldings held by Life Source on July 3 at the Meadowlands. He also won this year's mile and three-eighths Classic Series Final in Canada.

"This year was totally unexpected with Eaton Road Kill," said Pistochini, who is from Auburn, California. "Next year I hope to give him a chance to race in all the big races. He also won money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and on November 6 in Chicago I will be presenting a check for just over $18,000 to that wonderful group."