NSW Harness Racing

TV TROTS LURED JIM DOUGLASS TO THE SULKY

TV TROTS LURED JIM DOUGLASS TO THE SULKY

To see Jim Douglass in action on a busy night at the trots is a sight to behold. For best effect you need to watch him on those occasions when his boss Ian Wilson has four or five runners engaged.

JACK TRAINOR TRAINS HIS FIRST WINNER BUT GIVES UP THE DRIVE

JACK TRAINOR TRAINS HIS FIRST WINNER  BUT GIVES UP THE DRIVE

Jack Trainor didn’t expect to have two runners in the same race just five weeks into his professional training career. Even more bizarre was the fact that he has only four horses in work at his Menangle base.

THE HART SIBLINGS ARE HARNESS RACING BLUE BLOODS

THE HART SIBLINGS ARE HARNESS RACING BLUE BLOODS

Genetics can be an unpredictable study but they ran true to form in the case of siblings Ashley and Cameron Hart. The brother and sister duo are the only children of Mark and Michelle Hart and grew up in the Riverina township of Junee, a veritable harness racing stronghold.

ROSS AND HIS STAR FILLY GET READY FOR A SPRING CAMPAIGN

ROSS AND HIS STAR FILLY GET READY FOR A SPRING CAMPAIGN

Ross Adams has been walking with a spring in his step over the last few weeks and the reason isn’t hard to fathom. The veteran trainer is understandably excited about the return of his star filly Vincenzina following her winter spell - in fact she’ll be at the Menangle trials as this story goes onto the website.

TUESDAY IS NORM AND TOOTSIE’S DAY OUT

TUESDAY IS NORM AND TOOTSIE’S DAY OUT

It’s a very rare Tuesday afternoon when Norm Warland and his evergreen mare Just Tootsie aren’t spotted in the float parking area at Club Menangle. Norm has only a twenty minute trip to the track from his Douglas Park property. You’ll never see him with a helper. Just Norm and Tootsie.

FAREWELL TO GAVIN LANG - THE BEST OF THE BEST!

FAREWELL TO GAVIN LANG - THE BEST OF THE BEST!

Drawing a comparison between Gavin Lang and Michelangelo may seem a fanciful proposition. Not so when you analyse the words of a 16th century biographer who completed his work on Michelangelo, while the Renaissance genius was still alive.

BLAKE HUGHES - COALFIELDS TEENAGER HAS THE BALL AT HIS FEET

BLAKE HUGHES - COALFIELDS TEENAGER HAS THE BALL AT HIS FEET

Most busy jockeys and harness racing drivers are confidence players. A win early in the programme can set their mood for the rest of the card. It seems a disappointing start makes no difference to the mindset of young Hunter Valley trots driver Blake Hughes.

HALWES WAS ONE OF THE BEST HORSES NEVER TO WIN AN INTER DOMINION

HALWES WAS ONE OF THE BEST HORSES NEVER TO WIN AN INTER DOMINION

When it comes to horses I’m a hopeless sentimentalist. I had the pleasure of calling Halwes in all of his Harold Park wins in the late 1960’s and he left an indelible impression on me. He was a horse of high speed, great reserves of stamina and a terrific will to win.

THIS BEETSON IS NO PIE EATER - ARTIE’S STILL GOING STRONG IN HIS TWELFTH YEAR

THIS BEETSON IS NO PIE EATER - ARTIE’S STILL GOING STRONG IN HIS TWELFTH YEAR

When veteran pacer Beetson stepped onto the track at Bathurst a week before Christmas, trainer Peter Trevor-Jones wasn’t aware his ageless warrior was about to race for the 200th time.

SARAH RUSHBROOK WAS HOOKED FROM THE START

SARAH RUSHBROOK WAS HOOKED FROM THE START

I unashamedly claim some of the credit for Sarah Rushbrook’s winning double at Tamworth Paceway last Thursday. It was her fourth driving double to date and took her to 45 career wins.

FATE BROUGHT BRAD ABBOTT AND DON BOSTON TOGETHER

FATE BROUGHT BRAD ABBOTT AND DON BOSTON TOGETHER

Brad Abbott picked exactly the right moment to visit his fellow trainer Leon Jurd at the Menangle training complex in December of 2016.

CLUB MENANGLE TO HONOUR HARNESS RACING’S FALLEN

CLUB MENANGLE TO HONOUR HARNESS RACING’S FALLEN

I was surprised when Club Menangle historian Peter Collier told me that forty trotting trainers and drivers have died in accidents since the sport began in Australia. In conjunction with his Victorian counterpart John Peck, Peter has worked tirelessly for years to identify the people involved and to trace the circumstances of their fatal accidents.

HONDO GRATTAN - GO GO GO YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

HONDO GRATTAN - GO GO GO YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

Stumbled upon a couple of photos of Hondo Grattan the other day. That’s all it takes to trigger memories of one of the most charismatic harness horses of all time. Did a quick check to learn that it’s coming up twenty five years since the little champ passed away at the Turnbull family’s Loyal Stud near Bathurst.