DEFINITELY NOT A CAN A PAL!
Lapanacaton was born in 1984 in the Adelaide Hills. This makes him 27 years old and the oldest pony racing at the pony trots! He came to live with the Brown family in 1991 after being rescued by Peta from the Gepps Cross Saleyards. Peta was looking for a pony to race in the pony trots and while at the Saleyards noticed a white pony with spots prancing around the yard. Unsure whether or not to bid without husband Terry with her, the pony was sold. However, the new owners sold him to Peta for $120 after working out that he was a gelding and not a colt as they first thought.
After arriving at the Brown’s property Lapanacaton was broken into harness and began his pony racing career soon after. He was driven in his first race by Josh Seal with Ryan Hryhorec then taking over. Ryan worked Lapanacaton every afternoon after school and drove him until Ryan turned 16. Lapanacaton has also been driven by Natasha Micaelzyk, Sara Smith, Toni Polain and Allan White.
Lapanacaton raced until the finish of the year 2000 season. At this time the Brown family has moved to Kapunda and did not always have a ‘big’ horse in which made it a long way to bring the pony down to race. Throughout his racing career Lapanacaton won many races and competed in the Pony Interdominions and State Championships.
Lapanacaton has also had success as a riding pony, successfully competing in Western shows, hacking, show jumping, novelties and breed classes.
Lapanacaton has now revived his pony racing career with Peta’s son, Nicholas. Nicholas was born in 2003 and Peta never imagined that Lapanacaton would still be around for Nicholas to race. Nicholas has raced Lapanacaton for the past two seasons. In his first season he had many placings but was unable to win a race. Last season, however, he had a purple patch where he won three races in a row.
Although having survived a bout of cancer and two attacks of laminitis Lapanacaton is currently healthy and ready for the 2011/12 pony season.
Nicholas and Lapanacaton