G'day all - spare me two seconds to pass on a little bit of personal news. After more than a decade with
@ballaratcourier
, I'm really excited to join Harness Racing Victoria (
@TheTrotsComAu
) in a full-time media role, starting mid-January.
Seriously, thanks to everyone who has reached out after the family home was sadly lost in the fires yesterday.
Hard to fathom and probably hasn’t sunk in, but life goes on and all the support is very kind.
(The Tassie Cup wasn’t there and the tour will roll on in 2024!)
❤️
WHERES THE GOLD!!! 😍
Cannot believe this - the greatest thrill ever with a ripper bunch of people.
Thanks to Pitty and everyone involved at
@aaronbainracing
@summitbloodstoc
and
@TonkinStewart
- masters of their craft.
Almost certainly don’t deserve to carry on with a photo etc. given the small share I have, but couldn’t help myself. Got a huge buzz last night with Wheres The Gold winning at Geelong. Just love this sport.
What a year! 12 months today with HRV and have loved every minute of it. Thanks to the team for giving me so many amazing opportunities, the trainers and drivers for being great to work with and the many new friends I’ve made so far!
Just lobbed back in Ballarat after the 1700km+ hike to witness the inaugural
@eurekarace
.
I hadn’t experienced an atmosphere like that at a harness racing meeting in my life. Just so many ticks on so many levels.
Well done to all involved - this is the event the sport needs.
One of the feel-good stories of the year as 81-year-old Bob Kuchenmeister scores his first driving win at Tabcorp Park. And although Bob wants a metro success before celebrating, this completes an amazing treble of victories at The Showgrounds, Moonee Valley and now Melton.
Sad news with the great Safari passing away at the age of 23. Won 28 races and over $500,000 before stud duties. Lived out his final years
@TonkinStewart
's property in Cardigan. Nobody will forget his truly epic win over Blacks A Fake in the 2008
@Bdtc150
Pacing Cup.
Grew up learning about and falling in love with the trots at this track, and to be able to MC the club’s big Cup meeting today was a genuine thrill. Thanks to
@StawellHarnessR
for asking me. ❤️🏆
"Every day I used to go into Mum, into the hospital in intensive care, and just say to her: 'you need to stay alive and see her run'."
Today, Sharon Hahne and mother Helen gave Falling Shards a carrot after a long-awaited victory at Bendigo. A special story
@TheTrotsComAu
soon.
Mclovin has run his last race, with owner Norm Jenkin and trainer
@apgath68
confirming the nine-year-old is now retired. He finishes a wonderful career with 28 wins, two Group 1s and $453,388 in prizemoney. Story to come
@TheTrotsComAu
.
So proud of this boy today. Aged 12. Ran his heart out & was arguably unlucky for
@WillieMullinsNH
@CheltenhamRaces
@itvracing
. Was fully prepared for him to be pulled up. But he was running for all the right reasons - a horse who deserved his chance to show us what he can do ❤️
"Nobody can touch Hail Mary, but look at the Australian horse finishing third!"
Just Believe does us proud with a brilliant run in the Jämtlands Stora Pris.
Harry, you're a star! 😍
My legendary 98-year-old grandmother asked yesterday what I was doing for work and recalled going to the trots back in the day when I said I was with
@TheTrotsComAu
😍
Just wanted to throw my pie tour winner out there,
@JasonBonnington
. If you’re ever in Mortlake, then ask around for Life Cafe & Asian Take Away. Like eating a diced eye fillet in a mix of puff and shortcrust pasty.
Coolest thing ever to sit down and chat with the legend
@ChrisAlford5000
for
@SEN_track
after career win 8000. Incredible driver and sensational bloke - congrats on achieving something truly special.
Somehow, it has already been a month since joining the team at HRV. Met some ripper people, been to heaps of race meetings, written lots of stories and spoken plenty of words. Could not have possibly enjoyed it any more.
Sometimes we are afraid to talk about the punt for whatever reason, but it’s why many of us love the sport.
A bloody great day here at Charlton in memory of Tom.
@racer_sue
The best in the game is my man
@JasonBonnington
. Nails these moments time and time again with a style that gets the best out of participants. Brilliant chat.
Sit back, relax and enjoy
@JasonBonnington
's wonderful chat with 82-year-old Bob Kuchenmeister after his brilliant victory in the final event at Melton with Leanne Leeann.
Led by
@SharonRalph7
and thanks to her power of work,
@AraratTrots
raised over $16k for the Pacing for Pink campaign on Sunday. What a wonderful effort. A little club with a big heart.
How good is harness racing? Ray Harvey - who drives trucks for a living - lands two feature country cups with one of just two horses currently on the books. And they're just the 19th and 20th wins of his career. Love it.
Truly saddened to learn of the passing of Tom Hogan. I only got to know Tara a little over the last few years, but what a wonderful person he was. So kind and warm to those that loved harness racing and the punt like he did.
Widely adored, he'll be sorely missed.
What a day! Thanks so much to
@sharpman87
and
@BirchipHarness
for asking me to play a small part in one of the best meetings on the calendar. As much fun as I’ve had at the races, with a highlight being steak sangas at 2.14am with Shane Sanderson and Kevin Sharp.
THE SHEER JOY! 🥹
Try not to tear-up while watching
@smartremark24
's daughter Darcie learn she is off to represent Pony Trots Victoria at the upcoming Inter Dominion carnival in Queensland!
Some really sad news to report with Group 1-winning trotter Aldebaran Crescent passing after a battle with illness. She was a beauty who won 14 of 77 starts and more than $200k for David Aiken and a great group of owners.
Have only been involved with the
@Katehargreaves7
and
@albieashwood
stable for a few weeks, but the communication to the owners has been first class. Pics, videos and written and audio updates. Superb.