New adventures loom for "Rocky"

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Harness racing history-maker Take After Me has entered a new chapter in his life - retirement.

The dual-gaited veteran was the first, and so far only, horse in this country to have had over 400 starts. That happened in March last year. The only other horses to have gone anywhere near Take After Me's record are Alexy (347) and Danke (300).

Now at the ripe old age of 15 and after a total 420 starts, the Holmes Hanover gelding's racing days are over and he is settling into his new life in Marlborough.

Bred by Fred and Jan Scott, Take After Me aka Rocky had 124 starts and four wins as a pacer and 296 as a trotter (17 wins).

Fred took over the training of Take After Me in March 2021 from son Glenn who was battling cancer. He died, aged 50, shortly after. 

Under Fred's watch Take After Me notched up another 10 wins, the most poignant being one at Methven just one day before Glenn's funeral.

"That was very emotional for us as a family," says Jan. 

Take After Me's last race was an eighth at Timaru last December.

"His heart just wasn't in it anymore," says Scott, "so we decided to retire him."

And he had a readymade home to go to. 

Sarah Jane Haughey, who works as a ranger for the Department of Conservation in Blenheim, had been talking to the Scott family about Take After Me's retirement after a chance meeting at Waterlea Raceway in 2024.

"I was wanting to find out how I could go about getting into driving - it's something I've  always wanted to do - and Fred was there washing down Rocky  and we started talking."

"Fred mentioned that Rocky wasn't too far away from retirement and I said I was interested in getting another standardbred."

Her first standardbred was Earl's Lady, a winner of seven between 2008-10.

Haughey met up with the Scotts again at the Blenheim races in January. One thing led to another and by the middle of February he was on a truck heading north.

"It wasn't easy - there were a few tears," says Jan Scott. 

"He's been with us all his life."

The Scotts though are happy with the decision and the way things have panned out for their Rocky.

"Sarah Jane's been great, we have already had some photos and videos of him and she's told us we are welcome to visit anytime - it's been perfect," says Jan.

As for Haughey she is delighted too.

Take After Me is now in a paddock adjoining a local winery in the country's sunshine capital and she has already started re-educating him to saddle.

"I threw a saddle on him and he was as good as gold with the tacking up but he has some anxiety about me getting me onto him - I haven't done that yet."

"I'll just take my time with him and I appreciate it's been a huge adjustment for him already."

Haughey has been around horses most of her life and all going well Take After Me is going to see a lot of the great outdoors.

"I do a fair bit of pig hunting and deer stalking .... whether he's the main horse or a pack horse, let's just wait and see."

Either way new adventures await and they will be a world away from his old life as the country's most raced standardbred ever.