Dannielle Veivers with HRA Board Member Margaret Reynolds
QUEENSLAND has retained the title, but harness racing was the winner from tonight’s Australian Reinswomen’s Championship.
A dozen of the nation’s leading ladies competed across six heats in Launceston, showcasing the tremendous talent the industry boasts.
Such was the skill on display, five reinswomen made their way into the winners’ circle during the tournament.
It was Dannielle Veivers, however, who finished the series at the top of the table.
Bookending the heats, Veivers accumulated 71 points to seal the win as defending champion, Narissa McMullen, finished second on 56 points, giving Queensland the quinella.
Western Australia’s Emily Suvaljko rounded out the top three with 50 points.
“It has been a wonderful experience and to win such a series against a group of some of the most talented reinswomen you will find anywhere in the world is a huge honour,” Veivers said.
“I had a bit of luck on the night, which is necessary in series such as these, and am just thrilled to join Narissa and Dani Hill (South Australia) has winners of the Championship.”
Causing an upset in the opening heat with the ironically-named Oneofthelads at $26, Veivers was then runner-up as McMullen annexed the second round.
Veivers then registered a pair of valuable fourths in the heats won by Hill and Suvaljko before a tail of the field finish in the fifth.
Locals had plenty to cheer about on that occasion as Tasmanian Samantha Gangell won with $21 chance Emjays Black Chip.
Veivers clinched the title by steering Earl Jujon to an effortless 14-and-a-half metre win.
“I’m so excited and just can’t thank everyone involved behind the scenes who worked hard to put on this series enough,” Veivers said. “That includes the trainers and owners for allowing us to drive their horses.
“Most of all I want to thank all the other reinswomen in the series. They have made it an amazing night.”
Thanks to Tasracing’s vision, the series has also been included in the Teal Pants Campaign, which ended last week.
Between February 1 and March 14 the sport’s ladies throughout Australasia wore specially-designed teal pants to raise awareness and valuable funds for ANZGOG – Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group.
Along with the search for a cure, the funds are distributed to the research nurse program and ANZGOG’s education and prevention program Survivors Teaching Students, where ovarian cancer survivors go in to the classrooms of medical students to present about their journey of diagnosis and living with a life threatening disease
Money is earned via each win during the campaign, with the various state governing bodies donating a set amount per victory, which is matched by the state’s major wagering company.
On average a win is worth $400 for the kitty.
“Tonight’s races adding to the teal pants fundraising in a real bonus as it is such an important cause,” Veivers said.
HOOFNOTE: As this article was being published Victorian reinswoman Kate Gath won an ‘open’ race with Forgot The Wallet, which also adds to the teal pants total.
