Sire: Robin Red Dam: Dillys Sweet Time (Pine Hill Time)

Bred by Dilly Dowell in 1990, Dillys Springtime began her racing career as a two-year-old with the Dowell family. From 7 starts in her debut season, she was unplaced only twice and was a winner of the 2YO Pace on the grass track at Errol (near Perth) in a time of 2.24.

During 1993 she changed hands to the Cassells stables, remaining in Scotland where she had 13 starts and winning 3 times that year at Corbiewood. She stayed with the Cassells family for much of her third year of racing before being purchased by Robert Stevenson. During this year she raced 41 times with 6 wins including heat and final of the Lenny Layton Memorial Cup at Corbiewood.

After a short time with Robert Stevenson she made her way to the MacKenzie family, where she would stay until the curtain fell on her long and successful career and on into the breeding barn. In 1995, from 24 starts she won a further 4 times, with 11 placed efforts. The following year she ran 43 times with another 4 wins to add to the tally and 22 placed efforts, in a season running from the 24th April to Boxing Day. One of these wins saw current Scottish Regional Steward Craig Stevenson guide her to victory at Corbiewood during Musselburgh Week, and she also spent part of the season at Tir Prince with current BHRC Vice Chairman Jim McInally.

In 1997 she racked up another 40 starts with 7 wins and 14 placed runs. The following year was her most successful in terms of wins and earnings, with only 3 unplaced runs from 24 starts. Her 9 wins, 11 seconds and 1 third saw her notch up £3570 that year, including winning the high grade heat at Ayr Racecourse when beating another Scottish legend, Johnnys Decision. She also won heat and final of the Stone Of Destiny Cup at Perth Racecourse in the same year.

In her penultimate season she raced 17 times with 2 wins, and this was echoed in her final season where she ran a further 17 times and added another 2 wins to her impressive tally.

Over the years she was partnered by a whole host of well-known Scottish names, including John Cassells, Sandy Cassells, George Kerr, Willie Drysdale, Jim McInally, Craig Stevenson, George Drysdale, Stuart MacKenzie, Tom O’Neil, Dougie Mckenzie, Mark Kennedy, John Kemp, Robert Stevenson and her breeder, Dilly Dowell.

In a career spanning 9 seasons she raced 226 times with an impressive 38 lifetime wins. She also recorded a further 96 placed efforts and her final earnings stood at £15,270.

Dillys Springtime had everything; heart, guts and determination. In every year that she graced the racetrack, she made it to the winner’s circle. She went on to breed a 2YO Scottish Champion from her first foal, MOST WANTED, who was race timed in 2.02.7 at York as a 2YO after winning the SHRC Futurity at Corbiewood. Her half-brother, DILLYS ABERCROMBIE was exported to America to race and her half-sister, LAMOUR LA PLOTT went on to breed 2017 SHRC Horse of the Year EVENWOOD COOLSTING who, by no coincidence, is owned by Trackside Racing Stables and trained by Ally MacKenzie.

Sarah Thomas