A local legend: The story of Perth specialist Green Zone

Green Zones became an integral part of British Horseracing in 2020/21, with the sport needing to protect its participants in order to continue racing throughout the pandemic. However, regulars at Perth will have fond memories of another Green Zone, a course specialist who has picked up six wins at the Scottish track since 2016 and is still going strong.

Total Runs 103, Total Wins 11

Total Runs at Perth 32, Total Wins at Perth 6

Green Zone started his racing life with trainer Nigel Tinkler, running on the Flat and winning three times at Pontefract, Thirsk and Newmarket. In 2015 he headed to the Doncaster sales and was purchased by trainer Lisa Harrison for just £1,500, and it was at Lisa’s yard in Cumbria where his hurdling career really started. It didn’t take him long to discover his penchant for Perth with him securing his breakthrough win at the course in July 2016.

To date Green Zone has run 76 times over hurdles and made 32 appearances at Perth. In July 2017 he landed a racecourse double, winning twice in the month, he then went on to make it three in a row by winning his next race at Uttoxeter, just one of his two wins over hurdles away from Perth. He went on to secure two more victories at the Scottish track in 2018 and 2019.

Perth racecourse Chief Executive Hazel Peplinski had no hesitation in nominating Green Zone as their Local Legend, saying “Green Zone has become a part of the furniture at Perth. He is a firm favourite with the staff due to his frequent appearances here, he always looks an absolute picture and is one of four horses that have won six times here. Another Perth favourite, Amalfi Doug, now holds the course record after winning his seventh race here earlier this month.

“Recently our Lodge Hotel manager, Bob Coles, asked me for a suitable subject for his equine artist friend Billy Dobbie to paint so we could raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund. I immediately recommended Green Zone since he is so handsome and loved by the Perth regulars.

“Not long-ago Lisa Harrison and her family were all staying in The Lodge after racing so no doubt Bob served them all their tea in his famous Green Zone mugs and updated them on the imminent arrival of Green Zone on canvas!”

Lisa Harrison, Green Zone’s trainer said: “I love our trips to Perth, it has always been a lucky track for us. The ground is a key factor in why we run there so often, Green Zone has won five of his six races at Perth on good.

“I got him for relatively little money at the Doncaster sales when he’d only run once over hurdles. Since then, he’s run 75 times over the hurdles for us, collecting lots of win and place prize money along the way. He’s a gorgeous horse who is always picking up best turned-out prizes and we all absolutely adore him at the yard.”

Sadly, Racing TV viewers won't be seeing Green Zone this week at Perth's Glorious Finale fixture, as he’s currently out of action recovering from a small injury, but Lisa, the whole team at Perth, and everyone who appreciates such a tough, honest horse who loves his jumping will be looking forward to seeing him again soon.