You could fill a decent sized page with the names of trainers and drivers who are second, third or fourth generation harness racing people. It’s almost certain the Turnbull dynasty is the most dominant in NSW and may well hold the same distinction nationally. Snapping at their heels is the prolific Hewitt family whose fourth generation participants are currently making their marks in regional NSW and on the big stage at Club Menangle. You can be sure a fifth generation is waiting in the wings.
I tuned into the “Sky 1” service last Wednesday night to watch Mark Hewitt, a third generation member of the clan driving a promising filly called Eye Keep Smiling from gate 4 in an NR47 event over 1730m. With the recent change to a January 1st birthday for southern hemisphere standardbreds, Eye Keep Smiling was one of three runners in the race still classified as two year olds. The Sweet Lou filly had debuted a week earlier, finishing second to Saveeon in a Breeder’s Challenge heat at the massive odds of $81.00 - a quote which greatly surprised her trainer. With the semi finals of the series still over three weeks away, Mark was anxious to give his filly further experience.
This time she started second favourite at $2.50 and looked the one to beat a long way from home. Hewitt didn’t participate in the early “burn” and was actually second last of the eight runners as they reached the first turn. He was able to latch onto the back of Studleigh Melise soon after, which put him into the one out one back spot thereafter. Eye Keep Smiling took a few strides to pick up when Mark eased around Studleigh Melise at the 300m but her momentum was building. She swept past Smooth Bon Bon at the 100m and won by a widening 1.6 metres in a slick mile rate of 1.56.1. Eye Keep Smiling’s continued improvement augers well for her prospects in the Breeder’s Challenge semi-finals in mid October.
Back in the barn with Eye Keep Smiling after a Bathurst win 21/09/2022 - courtesy Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
Mark proudly wore the colours of owner-breeder Jackie Gibson who in tandem with her mother Mary, runs the well known Success Stud at Young. Jackie’s silks are simple but spectacular - purple with the prominent white JG symbol front and back of the jacket, white epaulettes and white seams. She introduced her personal brand in 2014 when she and Mark were campaigning successfully with the good two year old filly Makes Every Scents. The daughter of Four Starzzz Shark won four on the trot including the heat and final of the Bathurst Gold Tiara. Prior to that she was happy to race in Mark’s stable silks of mauve, purple sash and sleeves - colours that were handed down to him by his grandfather Harold fifty years ago.
Makes Every Scents holds off Mustang Jet to win the 2014 Gold Tiara Final - courtesy Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
The very first horse Mark Hewitt trained for Jackie Gibson was the immensely talented Two Eye See. “I’ve never forgotten the night Jackie rang to offer me some horses to train,” said Mark. “At the time I was a full time shearer and part time horse trainer. Unlike my brothers Bernie and David I never really wanted to train full time. Up until that point in time shearing had always been my main source of income. When Jackie offered me some well bred horses to train, I decided to give training a serious shot for a while.
The Hewitt brothers in the 1990s - courtesy Club Menangle.
“Her previous trainer Lyle Jones had some ongoing health issues, and she was kind enough to give me the opportunity. All the way through our conversation she kept coming back to an already gelded Armbro Operative youngster out of Grace Robinson. She told me he’d broken in beautifully and was an absolute natural. It wasn’t until I’d agreed to accept her offer, that she told me the colt had lost the sight of one eye in a paddock accident at just two weeks old. That doesn’t do much for your confidence.”
Jackie Gibson was right. Two Eye See was indeed an absolute natural and came out with all guns blazing as a two year old to win his first six races on the trot. They included the heat and final of the Linden Huntley Little Memorial at Bulli, and the heat and final of the Kevin Seymour Nursery at Albion Park. His outstanding form continued when he went to Melbourne for the Vicbred Super Series of 2009. He ran second in a heat, comfortably won a semi final and had little luck when second to Grinnersawinner in the rich final at Melton. Even at this early stage of his career Mark suspected the horse had a respiratory issue. “He had a runny nose most days but the vets could never isolate the problem,” recalled Mark. “He raced well through his three year old season but the problem persisted, some days worse than others. His form tapered off at four and five and it was obvious he wasn’t quite the horse he’d been.”
Two Eye See holds off Lanercost and Jorg Is Best to win the Gr. 1 Seymour Final 2009 - courtesy Club Menangle.
“We virtually retired him and it looked as though he’d be spending the rest of his days at Success Stud. After almost a year his condition seemed to improve and Jackie opted for one more preparation. Because he was on such a tight mark she decided to send him to the McCarthy stable to race exclusively at Menangle. He won another four races at headquarters but was disappointing on occasions. That nasal problem definitely affected him. He retired with a record of 20 wins and 14 placings for $306,000. His partial blindness was never a problem. He was completely trusting and simply waited for a signal from his driver. If he wasn’t sure what to do, he’d just wait for you to tell him. He was a unique horse and without doubt the best I’ve trained.”
Mark in one of his 16 wins with Two Eye See - courtesy Club Menangle.
Mark was the original trainer of Piney Ranger who spent time in several stables during a 133 start career which brought 24 wins and 44 placings. Under Mark’s tutelage he won 16 races including four at Harold Park Friday night meetings. Another of his all time favourites is Burning Stature whose 71 start career yielded 13 wins and 25 placings. Her career highlight came on the right day. The daughter of Stature won the Gr 1 Sires Stakes Final in front of a 16000 strong crowd on the occasion of the opening of the new Menangle 1400m circuit. “It was a huge thrill to win a feature race on such an unforgettable day,” said Mark. “Burning Stature has also been a high achiever in the breeding barn, with six winners from six foals to race.”
Mark fondly remembers an eleven win association with the talented Paxton Joy, highlighted by a Gr 1 3YO Fillies Sires Stakes Final at Harold Park in 2004. He also got to train Jerada’s Delight for the first half of the talented mare’s career. Mark won nine races with the daughter of Bettor’s Delight before her transfer to a Queensland stable in June of 2020.
Paxton Joy swoops on Juslika and Jabiru Dancer to win the 3yo fillies Sires Stakes final at Harold Park 04/06/2004 - courtesy Club Menangle.
The experienced horseman is based on the eastern edge of Grenfell, the historic gold rush town in the NSW Lachlan Valley. He has the use of a 500m track at home and a very serviceable 800m circuit on the infield of the Grenfell racecourse. He consistently works a team of twelve horses with the valued assistance of Leanne Staunton who he describes as a “great hand with a horse”. Leanne has a grandfather who enjoys legendary status in Grenfell and surrounding districts. Ninety nine year old Keith Ritchie is a former trainer who was a regular at Harold Park in the 1970’s with talented horses Boney Walla and Boneys Brother. The former Grenfell butcher enjoys remarkably good health, still has a horse in work, and is a frequent visitor to the Hewitt stable.
Another Breeders Challenge aspirant in the Hewitt yard is the consistent Always B. Miki filly Not To Be Denied, whose impressive record stands at 9 wins and 5 placings from just 17 starts. She carried the Eye Keep Smiling colours in the final event at Wagga last Friday, and was gallant in finishing second to the promising Hiranya in a smart NR 65 field. Not To Be Denied was three wide from the 700m but never stopped trying, and was beaten just over a metre. Mark also has a good opinion of a two year old filly called Sporty Mary who resumed recently after sustaining an injury at her first race start in March. The daughter of Sportswriter raced greenly when second at Young on September 13th, and followed up with an encouraging third after a chequered run at Eugowra on Sunday. Mark should have gone close to a win at the same meeting with Western Bill in the NR78. The gelding got clear of a pocket very late and flashed up to just miss a place. He was swamping the opposition on the line.
The brothers three Mark, David and Bernie Hewitt have each carved a niche for themselves in NSW harness racing. Their talents in the training field are exceeded only by their reputations as pillars of integrity. David’s sons Brad, Sam and Scott have all followed him into the harness racing industry. Bernie’s sons Jason and Doug are every bit as keen as their father was at the same age, while daughter Gemma has already made her mark as a trainer. In Mark’s case the genetic forces have taken a different direction. His sons Jeremy, Andy and Luke and daughter Elizabeth have followed career paths away from harness racing.
There are enough Hewitts involved in the sport to keep the name in circulation indefinitely. Mark became the family elder when his father Tom Hewitt passed away in 2009. Tom predeceased his wife Angela, mother of Mark, David and Bernie by five years. Fond memories of the respected couple are rekindled in January of each year, when the Tom and Angela Hewitt Memorial Pace is run at the Goulburn Paceway.
And so the Hewitt harness racing dynasty moves on in three different regional locations - David and sons at Goulburn, Bernie and family at Georges Plains with Mark firmly entrenched at Grenfell. Between them they produce a large number of runners across a wide range of tracks, week in and week out. Mark’s pretty busy with his twelve horse team but keeps a close watch on the progress of every member of the dynasty. These Hewitts are a close- knit bunch.
(Banner image - Mark and Paxton Joy after the Sires Stakes Final win - courtesy Club Menangle.)