By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
The story of Beeps and Evidently, two “everyday” horses from Peter Holmes’ Canterbury stable, is a remarkable one.
Their racing records have run parallel to each other right from the start.
Even when they qualified in 2019 the pair deadheated for second at Rangiora and the battle for bragging rights has been going on ever since.
And that head-to-head took another turn at the weekend when Evidently cleared out to win race 6, the Kaiapoi Club/Morrisons Saddlery pace by six lengths on the grass at Rangiora, while three races later Beeps had to settle for fourth in the Pop/RPW Classic.
That gave them one win each for the year after Beeps won at Geraldine last month. Evidently now has three career wins, Beeps two.
“There’s not much between them, they are no champions but good everyday horses,” says Holmes.
They are the only horses Holmes has racing at the moment though he has some younger stock that he’s hoping will make the grade.
Before the weekend Beeps, a 6YO Auckland Reactor gelding, and Evidently, a 6YO Changeover gelding, had both won two from 45 starts, and about the same in stakes money.
Evidently has now won $30,809, to Beeps’ $23,729. Holmes either bred or co-bred them both.
Second cousin Robbie Holmes drove Beeps at the weekend while Jim Curtin is Evidently’s regular pilot.
“Being an Auckland Reactor Beeps can be a bit highly strung whereas Evidently is cruisey,” says Peter Holmes.
But the pair are clearly mates as well as regular rivals. They have competed against each other on 14 occasions. Evidently holds the advantage 9-5 and is now a rating 46, while Beeps is at 42.
“If one goes on the float and the other one doesn’t they are not happy, you can tell.”
Holmes prefers to race them separately – if for no other reason than it’s easier logistically.
“That means I only need one cart at the races and I can look after them myself rather than having to get other people to help out.”
Both horses will now head to the West Coast to race at Westport and Reefton between Christmas and the New Year.
“The short space between races usually suits a horse like Evidently – he can usually back up and thrives on the racing.”
Holmes, a sheep farmer from Templeton, is the fourth generation of his famous family to train and race horses, following on some of the greats of the game including his great uncle Morrie “The Maestro” Holmes.
He’s had 35 training wins since 1988. Before Beeps and Evidently his last success came with five race winner Hairy Maclary in 2014.
