Injury ends season for Titan Banner

Star Otago pacer Titan Banner has had his season ended by injury.

The pacer, who was campaigning from the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stable in Sydney, has  fractured a pedal bone.

The horse showed soreness leading into his first Australian assignment at Menangle on Saturday night and was scratched as a consequence.

Subsequent X-rays found the fracture in the horse’s pedal bone.

Titan Banner would require eight weeks recuperation time in a loose box, co-owner and trainer for most of the horse’s career, Graeme Anderson, said.

The horse would do that in Sydney under the care of veteran trainer-driver John McCarthy.

Titan Banner’s injury comes during the season in which he showed some of his most brilliant form.

The horse ran second in the Auckland Cup on the back of a luckless New Zealand Cup campaign.

Prior to that, the 6yr-old gelding was a star performer in the early spring, winning three group 3 races:  the Maurice Holmes Vase, the Hannon Memorial and the Methven Cup.

The New Zealand harness racing industry is mourning the death of prominent owner and breeder Bob McArdle.

McArdle died in his sleep aged 76 on Wednesday night.

McArdle made an undeniable impact on harness racing in New Zealand largely through his establishment of Nevele R Stud with the late Wayne Francis.

He also raced and bred  dozens of horses which were named with the Bromac tag.McArdle is survived by his wife, Denise, and children Lisa and Baeden.  

Add a Comment