S.A. Pony Trots

PROFILES

 

Profile - Julie Billinger

Julie was born into the Harness Racing Industry and has been actively involved all her life, growing up in Perth her family were professional harness racing trainer/drivers and she was Clerk of the Course for the Lady Reinswomens Association.

On returning to Adelaide in 1980 she worked for SAGASCO Resources for 13 years as Administration Coordinator and Personnel Secretary until leaving to have their first child.  Julie is married to husband Darren and has two children Kelly 16 and Jodie 14 years.

After marrying Darren they moved to a 40 acre property at Two Wells where they trained a large team of horses for 10 years.  During this time both Kelly and Jodie grew up with horses and Jodie has chosen to continue through the pony ranks. 

Jodie has been doing pony racing for the past 7 years and in the last 12 months Julie has created the South Australian Harness Racing Pony website www.saponytrots.com and last season was on the Committee.

Profile – Julie Gilbert

Hi, my name is Julie Gilbert and I guess it is fair to say that I was born into the Harness Racing business. My father Keith Preston is a well known trainer and driver and my grandfather Ron, was also a trainer in Victoria. I have several uncles as well as my brother, Barry Preston, that are still actively involved.  My links to Harness Racing became deeper when I married into the Gilbert clan, as Andrew's family has been involved for three or four generations on both sides.

I grew up with ponies when we lived at Kerang in Victoria and I have retained this passion through to my current involvement which is with an equestrian horse doing three day events and helping the kids with their ponies.  Previously I trained and drove harness horses with my last winner being at Kapunda in 1991.  I don't do a lot with our racehorses (far too many) that Andrew trains, except the dirty jobs that he doesn't want to do!  Indeed I drove ponies for many years in the 80's and went to two Pony Interdominions with my star Shetland, Chocco. (I wish we still had him now).

I take great pride in my three children, Jacinta, Christie and Bryce taking an interest in the horses and we really hope that at least one of them continues their involvement through to the senior harness ranks. Of course they'll have real jobs as well, but we often forget what a wonderful family sport Harness Racing can be. Like, I still see my father and Andrew's father, George, every day due to our common Harness Racing interest.  There are not too many sports you could say are truly family sports...but this one is!

Profile – Jan Cox

Jan started off in Pony Club in her younger years then moved on to showing and finally into Harness Racing.  This is where she met her husband, Ron Cox and they have been married for many years.

Her first involvement in pony racing was during the 1989/90 season with her pony ‘Black Eyed Susan’ and then she joined the South Australian Harness Racing Pony Committee in 1991/1992 and continued until 2006/2007, she was Treasurer from 1991/1992 to 2000/2001.

These days Jan volunteers at the Adelaide Zoo and Riding for the Disabled.

Profile - Karen Carey

I am a mum of 2 boys, Damian and Jason and have 5 grandchildren.  I was born into trotting with dads’ first pacer being Brother Bernie whom he kept a secret until he won his first race.

My sons drove ponies for harness racing Wyebo Cassandra driven by Damian and Modern Millie driven by Jason, now my 6 year old granddaughter, Kaycee has Magpie Mary and Crackerjack.  I am now on the Committee as I was when my boys were driving ponies.  They are now 36 and 33 years old.

Profile - Jane Clydesdale

My involvement with harness racing began as a 12 year old stable hand helping Geoff and Richard Gubbins on weekends at their Woodville stables.  I enjoyed the challenges of working with horses and obtained my trainer's licence when I was 19.  I met Digby, Chantell'es dad in Adelaide before moving to Perth and continued to race horses there.  After 18 years in Perth we moved back to Adelaide Christmas 2007.

Through Angela Wise I became involved with SAHRPA when Chantelle started driving Oungachucka last season, kindly leased to us by the Eitzens, as her pony Wynkie Sweet Fairytales was quite a handful for an inexperienced driver.  Chantelle hopes to drive both ponies this season.

I still have a broodmare and a yearling by Day In A Life in Perth.

Profile - Pam Hayter

My family involvement in horses comes from my uncles Arthur and Ron Mooney.  Arthur Mooney trained many thoroughbred winners and Ron trained standardbreds and as a small child Ron would let me sit in the jog bike while jogging Jamestown Boy.

I attended Enfield Pony Club in the late 70's and also started showing showjumpers and lead rein ponies.

At fifteen my first job was stablehand for smart standardbred and thoroughbred trainer Frank Romeo at Victor Harbor.  Then continuing on as SA's first female apprentice jockey I worked for trainers such as Leon MacDonald and David Balfour before realising that I was going to be too heavy, I then attained my thoroughbred trainers licence.  I also pre-trained racehorses for trainers such as Murray Hughes, Gordon and Lin Richards, Marilyn Smith and Galilee Park as well as preparing yearling thoroughbreds for the sale ring.

In 1995 I met Lane Johnson my partner of 14 years.  We both have the love of moulding young horses from birth to racing and breaking harness ponies in for children.  Lane and I have 2 children Emma 9 and Corey 7 who now both do pony trots.

I also enjoy in my spare time doing rug and harness repairs. 

Profile - Rachel Maguire

My name is Rachel Maguire, my family has been in Harness Racing my whole life.  Robin (my father) has trained horses since he was a just a lad taking over from his father Lyell, since then my sister Karen was brought up with horses and she now is a trainer as well.  Myself and my brother Matthew both raced in the pony trots until we turned sixteen, Matthew now drives in races.  So as you can see it is in my blood.  I am a owner and breed these days and will be for many years to come.

Profile - Sharon Newman

I was born in the suburb of Subiaco in Perth WA, my mother and father were professional harness racing trainers at that time.

We then moved to Port Augusta in 1983 where I joined the local pony club (Stirling North) and competed in many shows and state championships, I also competed in the first pony trots at Whyalla.

About 4 years later we moved to Adelaide (Globe Derby Park) where I then got my harness racing drivers licence at the age of 20, and was lucky enough to drive a couple of winners and a few placegetters.

I then met my husband Garth Newman through harness racing, who owned a couple of horses, including a handy one called Groucho.  After we got married I got my trainer’s licence which I have had for about 8 years.  I have always been involved and helped my mother (Glenda Fuller) with her horses, and have always had my own arab hacks.

Throughout this time I have been employed with Coles for 17 years.

We have 1 daughter, Sharni, 7 years who has always loved animals and horses and she now drives Midnight Star in the pony trots as well as riding him around home.