Harness: Profile of owner Derek Delaney

For most in the Standardbred industry early August means Hambletonian time, but for the Delaney family in Wales and Ireland, it is all about the Vincent Delaney Memorial. Created a decade ago to honor the memory of Vincent after he died of a sudden heart attack, the race has grown in purse size and exposure exponentially.

Derek Delaney was happy to sit down and answer many questions about the event, racing in his hometown and much more to perhaps open the eyes of people all over the globe of the great experience available to anyone who wants to visit the August 12-13 event in 2023. Enjoy!

How did you get started in harness racing?

There was a racing yard about two miles from where we grew up, owned by the Wallace Family, and we used to go there as kids and to Portmarnock Raceway, which was also close by. I think the bug bit us then and we got more involved in later years. There was a big horse culture growing up in Dublin in the 1980s and 1990s.

You run the Vincent Delaney Memorial in Wales. How did that come to fruition?

Our younger brother Vincent died suddenly in 2011 from a heart attack at 27 years old. It is a common thing in Ireland and the UK to have memorial cup races and we decided in 2012 to have one that was hopefully going to make a difference to the breeding program over here. Our thought process at the time was to have it for 2-year-old pacers to encourage breeders to invest more, and by having a decent purse for them to race for it would eventually increase the price of the yearlings at the sales, and so on. It seems to have worked out!

How has racing in the British Isles changed since the inception of the VDM?

I think it has helped to raise the bar. Our breed is evolving and it’s a pleasure to see the progress on the racetrack.

What’s your best pitch to get someone to travel to Wales to witness your August 12-13 event this year?

I think if you love harness racing and a good time you’d be crazy not to experience the atmosphere and hospitality that you will receive at the VDM. Our ethos is to deliver the best of the best on and off the track and to make sure everyone has a good time whilst celebrating Vincent’s Memorial.

Is there wagering on the races during Delaney Memorial weekend? If so, can you bet it in the U.S.?

There is wagering on the races, but it is on-course only through the bookmakers. Unfortunately we do not have any pari-mutuel off-course betting in the USA.

Are you racing pacers, trotters or both?

Both.

The Delaney Memorial sees plenty of international support from North American sponsors. How has that helped the racing grow in Wales?

It has really helped with the prestige of the event having so many internationally recognized names involved with the race weekend.

Have you learned anything from these international entities about breeding and management?

Yes, we have learned an awful lot from them, not only in the breeding and raising of young horses but also in marketing, PR and business. It is a privilege to have access to this kind of knowledge.

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How has moving the races from Ireland to Wales, due to the Portmarnock track closing, impacted the event?

It has made a massive difference to the numbers, with record nominations, purses, and attendance. I believe with the hype around now that this year’s event will be the best to date!

What do you see in the future for racing in Ireland, Wales and the Delaney Memorial?

I see horse numbers increasing with the amount of breeding going on, which in turn will allow us to improve our product and hopefully lead to us becoming more of a sustainable industry than we are now. I think with the growth in the VDM over recent years, starting from a €10,000 race back 2012 to approximately €175,000 in 2023 across all races, the future is bright for the event. The goal in year one was 10k euros. My new goal is to increase the prize money over time to €500,000.

I noticed the Delaney races have horses from a wide variety of stallions. How do the “hometown” stallions fare versus those from North America?

They don’t do too badly. If you look back at all the VDM 2-year-old events, the score is nine homebred Final winners versus seven American imports or frozen-semen sired winners. But then in recent years four out of the last five winners are American Sired.

Oakwood Stud has been an agent for semen from some US based stallions, such as Captain Crunch, Sweet Lou and Always B Miki. Have you seen any impact on yearling sales or racing with the addition of these stallions?

Yes, we have seen sales prices rising on average and on the racetrack our star juveniles in recent years have been by Always B Miki and Sweet Lou. I am not sure of the stats for 2022, but in 2021 Sweet Lou was the leading sire of earnings across all age brackets with only 2- and 3-year-olds racing. I’m pretty sure he was in 2022 also. I believe their addition has helped to stimulate our breeding industry and made the racing more competitive.

How do yearling sale prices compare to the US market?

The highest-priced yearling sold to date in the UK or Ireland is £75,000, equivalent to $100,000 approximately. It was a homebred filly we actually bred, sired by Foreclosure by Carmel Camden (No Pan Intended), making her a full sister to Oakwood Anabella. The sales average last year was £8,000 ($10k U.S.). The highest yearling sold last year was £50,000 ($65k U.S.), by Always B Miki x Carmel Camden. Always B Miki sold five that averaged £22,000 ($28k U.S.) and Sweet Lou sold four and averaged £26,750 ($35k U.S.).

There have been some UK/Irish horses exported to the US, do you think this will continue? Are you happy with how they’ve raced thus far?

Yes, I do think it will continue because the breed is getting better all the time and when they are finished in their stakes races here there isn’t a lot of options left for them to earn some money, so people sell and start again or export them for themselves to race stateside. I think they have all raced well overall, with three of them having went 1:49s to date, and are starting to catch the eye of the American trainers.

What is your favorite track to visit? Why?

Meadowlands. I just love the high standard, the racing and facilities, and the professionalism there are second to none. To me it’s just the best track in the world to watch or attend harness racing.

What is your favorite big event in racing? Why?

The [Little Brown] Jug for the history and the racing experience, and we have always followed it here in Ireland, and of course Roger’s [Huston] commentary!

What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing?

Spend time with my family!

What is one word that describes harness racing for you?

Community.

Do you own many horses?

22.

What was your best moment in harness racing?

Oakwood Anabella racing in the Jugette. Biggest high ever to date.

If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be?

The negativity.

Do you follow racing in North America?

Yes. I follow all the big racing events and the offspring racing by our stallions or exported horses.

What can racing in North America learn from racing in the UK?

I don’t think there is anything with the racing really, but I do think we have a better party atmosphere at our tracks, so maybe having more entertainment for the public, after parties, etc.

Best Horse you ever saw: Somebeachsomewhere.

Favorite TV Show?: Breaking Bad.

Trotters or Pacers?: Pacers.