Gangsters Greeting and Madilyn Burns.
A former Tintin In America pacer, who never made it to the races, is now on the verge of qualifying for next year’s prestigious annual Sydney Easter Royal Agriculture Show thanks to the riding skills of Goulburn 12-year-old, Madilyn Burns.
Presented as both a Christmas and birthday gift to Madilyn on her 11th birthday (December 27, 2023), the former Mark Croatto-owned-and-bred Gangsters Greeting is just two wins away from fulfilling a dream for the talented Year 7 student.
The now six-year-old bay gelding and Madilyn were the 2024 Taralga Show’s A and P Show Reserve Champion; the 2024 Blacktown Show’s A an P Show Champion Ridden Standardbred; and the 2025 Goulburn Agricultural Show’s Reserve Champion Ridden Standardbred.
Gangsters Greeting & Madilyn Burns following their Blacktown Show success
Gangsters Greeting & Madilyn Burns following their Goulburn Show success
This year they will compete at a further five shows before the December cut-off date in the hope of securing the two necessary wins to qualify for the distinguished ‘Standardbred Dressage’ section in Sydney next April.
“It’s amazing to think that Madilyn is just two wins away from qualifying, considering she only touched a horse for the first time in late October 2022. She was instantly hooked!” said Patrick Burns, her proud father.
“It has been a big learning curve for both her and the horse, but Gangsters Greeting is such a lovely-natured animal, and that has been a big reason why Madilyn has won on him at various shows already,” Burns added.
Gangsters Greeting is the last of seven foals out of the 2000 Troublemaker mare, Troublescene (1:56), who won 21 of her 80 starts and over $90,000 in stakes money.
The now budding equestrian champion competes under his harness racing name, while locally at Pony Club he is known as ‘Vada’.
Croatto, who has been involved in harness racing for most of his life was delighted that Madilyn was performing so well with his ‘old mate’.
Mark Croatto – breeder Gangsters Greeting
“I am thrilled that they have retained his former racing name – Gangsters Greeting – in his new role. Regrettably he could never get his action correct, and in his last workout, he managed to trot, canter, gallop and even pace a little bit.” said Croatto
“He is a wonderfully natured horse – a real character with a unique marking on his chest. He would follow you around like a big dog and just wanted to be your friend. After being broken in I rested him in my neighbour’s paddock and at the time I was building a greenhouse on the fence line. He would stand there with his head over the fence picking up tools, bits of wood, in fact anything he could get his mouth on to play with. He’d only leave when I finished up,” said Croatto, who lives on a 12-acre block in Crookwell NSW.
The Goulburn Harness Racing Club Secretary/Manager since December 2007, said he preferred to breed standardbreds and watch their growth and development into racehorses. As a many times winning owner, he was delighted that Gangsters Greeting had found another calling and was performing so brilliantly.
“While I enjoy the racing side, it comes with angst every time they go around. I far prefer the breeding side; just love the genetics involved. I own far too many horses and try to keep them at home when retired, but I simply couldn’t keep them all. I’m so happy he’s living a happy, and successful life now. Madilyn should be so proud of herself and she appears to have a very bright future for someone so young.”
“For the record, I take great care in naming horses and anyone who knows about the ‘Tintin Series’ in particular the Tintin In America story would understand why I named him Gangsters Greeting” said Croatto.
“After being retired from harness racing, Gangsters Greeting was rehomed with Michelle Hunter of Goulburn, whose son Will broke him to saddle and started he`s journey into Pony Club which has helped Madilyn educate him in dressage,” Croatto said.
“We use Vada as his paddock and Pony Club name. After finding out his race name, we use ‘Gangsters Greeting’ as his competition name, because it really suits him,” said Burns.
Madilyn, who now lives for her horse, said, “I’d like to thank Mark for creating such a beautiful horse. I also want to thank Deborah Pearson from Pearson Equine for putting up with me and my horse’s attitude.”
Her father said it all started in April 2023 when Madilyn had her first mount on a 20-year-old Arab pony, and then a month later she rode in her first Goulburn Pony Club event.
“Madilyn’s first mounted games were in May 2023, where she came third in a team of four other kids she never knew. At this event we quickly learned she needed a bigger faster horse. We borrowed a quarter/stock horse for the Young Pony Club camp in July 23 where she had her first fall. The very next day she had her first gallop,” said Burns.
“I kept an eye on Gangsters Greeting at the same camp and kept Madilyn up to date on his progress. She had seen him jumping C-Grade and said: ‘Dad, I want to ride that horse’. She got on him for the first time on July 22, 2023 at Michelle Hunter’s property, and then the following month she got on him to canter,” Burns added.
Burns explained the Hunters then took Gangster Greeting to the Braidwood Pony Club Camp for a week where Madilyn was given the opportunity to ride him, and it was there that she fell in love with her ‘big-bay-man’.
“They had their first gallop Oct 28, 2023, and then the following month she took him to the Taralga Pony Club Gymkhana where they won Reserve Age Champion with too many event ribbons to count. Then of course on December 27 that year all of her dreams came true when I finalised the purchase of ‘Gangsters Greeting’ for her.
Ribbons galore for Madilyn and Gangsters Greeting
Madilyn, who is an only child, has now been a member of the Goulburn Pony Club for two-and-a-half-years, and the Goulburn Dressage Club for the past 18 months.
“We’re so grateful to Pearson Equine for the way they have nurtured Madilyn into the sport. ‘Vada’ and Madilyn get on so well, he bends to her will and is such a friendly, obliging guy. We love the way he is cheeky and spirited,” said Burns.
Gangsters Greeting loving the jumps
“Mark obviously laid brilliant foundation with him, and I’m so pleased that we all managed to cross paths. Thanks again Mark, and you too, Deb, at Pearson Equine. You have given Madilyn not only a close mate, but also a dream to fulfill,” added Burns, who is a Mechanical Engineer based in Goulburn.
