Laurence Dawson is one of many young horsemen who’ve worked hard to carve themselves a niche in harness racing rather than turn their backs on a sport they’ve grown to love. Laurence is the only son of Peter Dawson who enjoyed success as a hobby trainer, but forged an immense reputation as a breaker of standardbred yearlings. Some of Sydney’s most astute horsemen sought his services. For a number of years Ron Croghan, Kevin Newman, Wally Wood, and Fran Donohue were among the first to call after the yearling sales.
Peter is now 83 and doing his best to manage the aftermath of a complicated leg break sustained while working Dawn Magic at Riverstone six years ago. “You couldn’t believe he suffered a career ending injury driving the quietest horse in Sydney,” said Laurence. “He wasn’t long over a knee replacement, and found he was more comfortable when he dropped the problem leg out of the footrest. Dawn Magic spooked at something and lunged forward hurling Dad onto the dust sheet. His leg got caught in the undercarriage as the horse took off, and he suffered a major fracture just below the area of the knee surgery. Ongoing complications brought his long career to a sad end.”
A great ground level shot at the now defunct Richmond grass circuit 17/09/1966. Peter Dawson scores an easy win on Straight Ahead - courtesy Club Menangle.
Peter Dawson estimated in a 2012 interview for Sky’s In The Gig programme that he’d broken in and educated around two thousand yearlings. You could safely add another hundred between then and his retirement in 2016. They say “reputations don’t just happen they have to be earned”. Peter Dawson’s reputation as a horseman was well earned and universally recognized.
It was a source of joy to Peter that his son showed an interest in the horse breaking art from an early age. Laurence was aware that he had the opportunity to learn from a master tradesman and spent his early years tapping into Peter’s wealth of knowledge. Dawson Snr was a good tutor and his son was a good listener. The result was that young Laurence was a pretty accomplished yearling breaker in his teen years. The Dawsons have been a fixture for many years at the popular Riverstone training precinct, situated just a short jog from their Carlton St stables. The facility is owned by Blacktown Council but maintained by Harness Racing NSW.
Laurence and Peter Dawson after Louis Litt's third Australian win at Bathurst 23/06/2021 - courtesy Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
Peter Dawson has a handful of favourites among the vast number of yearlings he broke in and educated. He had great affection for Willing Whiz, a top race filly whose wins included a Bathurst Gold Tiara Final. More importantly she went on to great success in the breeding barn, and to this day her daughters are doing their bit to keep the dynasty alive. One of those daughters was Sanctum who was broken in by Peter before going on to win ten races for Fran Donohue. Like her dam, Sanctum went on to great prominence as a broodmare.
The Riverstone horseman has always rated Sir Guinness the best of the yearlings he worked with. This son of Troublemaker was trained and driven by Darren Hancock for most of his career, winning twenty two races including a Sires Stakes Final at Harold Park.
Laurence was twenty years old when he experienced the unforgettable thrill of piloting his first winner. It was a hot January day in 2000 at the popular Bulli venue and Peter had found the right race for a moderate horse called Smokey Khan. Laurence rated the gelding at least the equal of Popular Alm, as he held the lead from the inside gate and won comfortably from Glenburn Aussie driven by champion reinsman Greg Bennett.
With race driving opportunities few and far between, Laurence had to wait three years before his first Harold Park winner came along. By this time he was courting his future wife Rebecca Leihn, daughter of trainer Doug Leihn who had a quirky but brilliant two old filly called Gracie Wilkes in his care. The daughter of Christian Cullen had won an APG Repechage and finished fourth in the final at Albion Park with Greg Bennett in the sulky. Laurence took over when the filly returned to Sydney and drove her in all subsequent starts. He won eleven races on the brilliant filly, but the first was easily the most significant - the much sought after Pink Bonnet at Harold Park in August of 2004.
One of Laurence's 11 wins on the quirky but brilliant Gracie Wilkes. Here she defeats Takara Stature in an MO at Harold Park - courtesy Club Menangle.
Around the same time Laurence and Doug Leihn enjoyed a tremendous run with expatriate New Zealander Black Reef whose Australian record stood at 21 wins and 26 placings when he was sold to the USA in 2006. Laurence won a total of 13 races on the son of Jaguar Spur including a Golden Mile and an Iraklis Championship at Harold Park. In winning the latter he beat good horses like Sting Lika Bee and Albert Kelly. In winning the Golden Mile he notched a memorable victory over champion Smooth Satin. “The champ’s glory days were behind him by then, but the win has given me lifetime bragging rights,” said Laurence.
A night to remember! Black Reef claims the scalp of Smooth Satin in the Golden Mile at Harold Park. Loyal Deputy was third - courtesy Club Menangle.
A few years later the Leihn/Dawson partnership was reignited when the talented Oscar Lane put together 11 wins and 8 placings from 43 starts. His wins included the Gold Chalice Final at Bathurst defeating Screaman Seaman and Suave Stuey Lombo. “He was a big horse and eventually developed some joint issues,” said Laurence. “We had a lot of fun with him.”
The horse to establish Laurence Dawson as a trainer in his own right was unquestionably the curiously named and super tough Meals On Wheels. The son of Road Machine was unbroken when Laurence responded to an advertisement he’d spotted on the Trotguide Classified page. “For $2100 I was prepared to take a punt,” he said. “It’s not often the cost of bringing a horse from NZ exceeds the purchase price, but that’s what happened. It cost me $2400 to get him here by ship and I had a lot of work ahead of me.”
The Riverstone horseman looks back on 15 memorable wins with the genuine little gelding. His 12 Harold Park wins included the 2006 Carousel Final beating Western Charlatan and Trouble Rulz. “He was a tremendous trier and could do any amount of work,” recalled Laurence. “If he happened to be back in the field early in a race you could get going a fair way from home, and more often than not he’d still be in the finish. He was a very important horse to me.”
The tough as teak Meals On Wheels scores a gutsy win in the 2006 Carousel final defeating Western Charlatan and Trouble Rulz.
We’ve already mentioned Dawn Magic, the horse at the centre of Peter Dawson’s freakish accident in 2016. “That was the one and only thing the horse ever did wrong,” said Laurence. “He raced 160 times for 14 wins and an amazing 36 placings. He was no world beater but a consistent performer and always a nice horse to drive. It’s hard to believe he was the horse to cause my father so much grief.”
Laurence has slowly perfected the art of shoeing over a period of years. He enjoys the job and has always had a keen eye for a problem foot. In recent times his burgeoning reputation as a farrier has brought him regular work around the district. With his shoeing business occupying so much time, Laurence restricts his training involvement to just three horses. To further reduce the stresses of training commitments, Laurence’s trio are owned by his parents. Peter races NZ expat Louis Litt while his mother Zita is the owner of Halloween and Selsey Bill.
Laurence getting ready to leave the barn on Louis Litt before his brave second to Black Onyx at Menangle 03/09/2022 - courtesy Club Menangle.
Zita Dawson bred Halloween who is by Betterthancheddar from An American Rose. This American Ideal mare won two races for Laurence and another five in Queensland when Zita sent her to John McMullen for a 22 start campaign. Halloween has won four races for the Dawsons despite breathing issues. “He’s actually had two tie-back operations which have been of great benefit, but I’m fearful he’ll struggle to realise his full potential,” said Laurence.
Leeton horseman Reece Maguire has been of great assistance to Laurence in sourcing two recent NZ acquisitions. Peter Dawson is the new owner of Louis Litt who’s won eight races for the Dawson stable since arriving from NZ in April of last year. He was gallant in running second to Black Onyx at Menangle on Saturday night after racing without cover throughout. “As far as temperament is concerned you’ve got to go his way a little bit,’ says Laurence. “He touches a knee but the use of one spreader has rectified that problem. On the credit side he has plenty of natural ability and a brilliant turn of foot. He’ll win some more races for the family.”
Laurence and Louis Litt get the upper hand over Enk Spot Shannon at Bathurst 23/06/2021 - courtesy Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
Zita Dawson agreed to take up the ownership of Selsey Bill when Laurence was able to acquire the three year old Falcon Seelster gelding from the same people who sold him Louis Litt. Selsey Bill doesn’t have Louis Litt’s electric turn of foot and he barely handles half mile tracks, but he’s honest and possesses obvious toughness.
The training of his three horse team and a busy shoeing schedule leave Laurence little time for the breaking of yearlings. “Breaking has been a major part of my years in the sport so far and I’ll never abandon it completely,” he said. “I’m still very tempted whenever a friend or close contact asks me to break one in. There’s no greater thrill than to see a youngster you’ve educated go on to do well on the track.”
When Laurence won his first race at the iconic Harold Park track on Black Reef in 2003 he and Doug Leihn’s daughter Rebecca had just begun to keep company. They were married in 2008, and today are the proud parents of Emily (12) and Patrick (9). “Emily likes being around the horses,” says dad. “Patrick can take them or leave them at this stage but when the genetics are strong you just never know.”
Laurence looked more than satisfied after Black Reef's win in the 2005 Golden Mile - courtesy Club Menangle.
The harness racing sport has been brutally punished in recent years by negative publicity, an endless pandemic, an exodus of participants and prize money levels which are increasing at snail’s pace - but at least they’re going in the right direction and devotees are heartened. If there’s a more resilient sport on the planet than this one I’m yet to find it. Despite a litany of setbacks this industry keeps climbing off the canvas to fight another day. It always has and it always will.
I’ve been around the game for many decades as a commentator and participant, and I have no doubt the principal reason for harness racing’s survival is the sheer unbridled love between standardbred horses and the people around them. They’re a unique species these harness horses. Kind, agreeable and in the main very easy to work with.
Laurence Dawson is the perfect example of a young man who can’t get enough of them. He breaks them in, trains and drives them and spends many hours looking after their feet. Thankfully there are many Laurence Dawsons around the nation who in simple terms are the glue that holds this game together. At just 42, and with a wealth of experience under the belt he has a lot to offer. The sport owes a debt of gratitude to people like Laurence Dawson and his father before him.
Oscar Lane - another prolific winner for Laurence and father-in-law Doug Leihn - courtesy Club Menangle.
(Banner image - Laurence and Gracie Wilkes scored an easy win in the C4/C5 at Harold Park 18/11/2005 defeating Jack Litten - courtesy Club Menangle.)