80-year-old tells why he got into Next To Me: Lincoln Farms gives you such a good deal

At age 80, Peter Dougherty reckons he’s been there, done that, in harness racing.

But when he literally sold the farm a couple of years ago and moved to “suburbia” in Rangiora, he heard of a deal he simply couldn’t pass up.

And on Thursday night at Cambridge, it paid off handsomely when Next To Me credited him with his 56th winner.

Dougherty thought he’d called time on his 45 years of breeding and racing horses until a friend, who knew John Street through Pak ’N’ Save supermarkets, told him about Lincoln Farms’ special partnerships.

“They give you such a good deal. If the horse who take a share in is no good you either get your money back or get another horse.

“I’m looking out on houses now, not paddocks with broodmares and foals, but this gives me an interest.”

Dougherty dipped his toe into the Lincoln Farms’ water first taking a share in Captain Nemo but, when he moved to Queensland after five wins, he switched into Next To Me, who is also raced by Lone Star’s Trevor Casey and John and Lynne Street.

“I’m up with the breeding and I know this family from way back.”

Monika Ranger returns after her no-panic drive on Next To Me, the seventh win of her fledgling career. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Dougherty, along with many harness racing fans, followed the exploits of Next To Me’s sister Splendour and brother Maxim, but it’s those further back in his pedigree he liked more.

Grand-dam Splendid Dreams left Christen Me, Hands Christian, Dream About Me and Aliente and great grand-dam, long time mile record-holder Scuse Me, produced topliners Adore Me, Have Faith In Me and Imagine Me.

“I can remember even further back than that,” says Dougherty who bred and owned his first winner, Waituti, in 1987.

“He was a Nat Lobell horse and won four with John Hay, who trained for me for 20 years. He broke a leg in training, just jogging.”

Dougherty says he’s had a pretty good innings as a breeder and owner.

“I’ve probably won more than 56 races but can’t remember them all. One of the best was Remote’s Dream who won the 1993 Wellington Cup when it was worth $40,000, She won 11 races here and another 25 or 26 after I sold her to America.”

“Dave Kennedy bred Di Caprio out of my mare Pay Me Girl - he ran in the 2020 NZ Cup - and Andrew Stuart leased Pay Me Visa off me. He’s just been retired after 17 wins.”

Dougherty likes the way Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green doesn’t push his horses too early - “that’s why I had results for many years. Horses are like a good wine, they take time. But with the big money up for two-year-old racing they don’t last any more.

“I learned a few tricks off my old mate Len Tilson when I lived down south. He had Stella Frost (23 wins, including the 1971 Interdominion at Addington on promotion) and never broke her in until she was three. I didn’t race mine until they were three.

“Next To Me looks like a big horse who still has some growing to do but with a bit more maturity he could be all right. He seems to goes well left handed - he was hanging a bit on those right handed bends at Auckland.”

Dougherty praised stable junior Monika Ranger’s handling of Next To Me.

“She drove him well, didn’t panic when they came at her, just did her own thing.

“It’s just a shame we’re racing for ice cream money but at least he stays on the same rating points.”

Next To Me kept his R48 rating as it was his first tote success, so win No. 57 for Dougherty shouldn’t be long coming.