Mike & Lyn Pike Photo by Pacepix
Owner Michael Pike’s love of the harness racing industry dates back to when he was just a young man, and although his initial introduction to racing was in thoroughbreds, as a jockey, he is adamant that harness is what he loves most.
Mick and Lyn Pike had a great weekend in harness racing, with the husband and wife celebrating an owning winning double at the two meetings over the weekend.
High Price kicked off the celebrations with a win at Northam for trainer Garry Sayers. With their association with Sayers going back a very long time, way back in Kalgoorlie where it all started for them all, they’ve experienced many highs together, as well as plenty of lows, with the devasting blow of losing Seeryanfly last year in his peak, as well as losing El Casanova NZ as a racing prospect when he sustained another tendon injury.
El Casanova NZ, an exceptionally looking horse on the track, he now finds himself in the capable hands of a vet, who is taking the time to educate the now gelding, who will turn his hoof at a new career as a show horse.
On the night of El Casanova’s last race, the impressive five-year-old made it three from three, ultimately pulling up sore after the event, but setting up what was a great night for his owners, with Seeryanfly winning later on in the night.
Pike enjoyed success at Pinjarra on Monday with two-year-old El jaydo winning first up for trainer/driver Dylan Egerton-Green.
With his father an avid racing fan, and a small stature on his side, Pike made his racing debut as a jockey, starting his career in Perth, eventually riding in Leonora and the Greenfields before walking away, but not before winning the 1973 Belmont Park Cup.
Battling with his weight, Pike made the decision to step back from race riding after just a few years in the saddle, but being located in Kalgoorlie at the time, he turned to his neighbour Bernie Plankie, who gave him a leg up into harness racing.
It was in 1997 that he tasted his first success in the cart when he drove the Roslynne Baxter trainer High Stepper Peppa to victory on February 1 at Kalgoorlie.
A race fall sometime later saw Pike deciding to hang up the reins and take up training instead, and it was then the 9th of December 2005 that he tasted his first training success, with Persuasive Guy winning in Kalgoorlie, with Garry Sayers in the cart.
Now enjoying the life as an owner, Pike still has plenty of involvement in both codes, with four racehorses currently with Michael Grantham, as well as a couple of pacers with long-time friend Garry Sayers and a further couple with Dylan Egerton-Green.
To date, his biggest thrill has been El Casanova NZ, although knowing he didn’t get to see the best of the horse, who was unfortunately plagued with tendon problems throughout his career.
“He was something special.”
Pike currently has Lyns Dakota, Pierra Art and Kamaka with Grantham, and had success earlier in the year with Dark Missile winning at Bunbury on January 7.
Grantham also trained El Casanova NZ at one point, winning four from five races before injury struck, before stepping away from the trots and going into thoroughbred training full time.
Pike now resides in Perth, enjoying the ownership side of racing, as well as experiencing plenty of the success along the way.
