Daryl Douglas will be part of today's big meeting at Horsham.
Noel Smith Memorial Horsham Driver Championship
The stage is set for the running of the 23rd annual Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers Championship on Monday afternoon at the Horsham Racing Centre.
A host of outstanding reinsmen and women have finalized arrangements to head to Horsham for the renowned event.
Dexter Dunn will make the long haul from Christchurch to defend his Horsham Invitation crown after taking out the 2012 title on his first and only visit to the Western Victorian track.
The stellar lineup of 10 invited drivers also includes Shane Graham (Qld), Rohan Hillier (Tas), David Harding (SA), Amanda Turnbull (NSW), Chris Voak (WA) and the Victorian quartet of Greg Sugars, Daryl Douglas, Chris Alford and Kerryn Manning.
The Championship is conducted across three races on Monday with points allocated to each driver, determined by their finishing positions in each contest.
The winner collects a Challenger Sprint 2000 sulky and a place on the perpetual Noel Smith Memorial Shield, which currently lists three time winners Gavin Lang (1991, 1992 &1996) and Daryl Douglas (1998, 2001 & 2002).
Each of the 10 drivers will receive a boxed pair of fine Norton Estate Wines as a memento of their visit to Horsham while the “tail ender” also collects the Gary Chequer Commemorative Wooden Spoon.
But everyone's a winner on the big day with all trainers, drivers, strappers and owners attending the meet sharing in a plethora of giveaways courtesy of: Carbine Chemicals, Hygain Feeds, Barry Eeles/Challenger Sulky Supplies, Flair Equine Nasal Strips, Finn Tack, The Horse Shed Shop, Virbac/Equimax, Oringi Protectionwear, Zilco Harness, Magnum Stableware, Designs ‘n Signs-Grafx Inc., Mustad Australia, Bertocchi Smallgoods and Mike Dickinson Video Productions.
A raceday hospitality area for all industry participants attending the meet will be provided courtesy of the Victorian Trainers and Drivers Association.
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Young Guns In Box Seat
Among the 10 invitees heading to Horsham on Monday afternoon are two “young guns” coming from opposite sides of the continent.
Chris Voak (WA) and Amanda Turnbull (NSW) are making their maiden visit to the Wimmera and like previous winners Matthew Neilson (Qld. 2003), Jim Douglass (NSW 2010) and Dexter Dunn (NZ) last year, will be hoping to hit the jackpot first-up.
Chris began driving in early 2008 at the Central Wheatbelt Harness Racing Club (Kellerberrin) and from 2902 career drives has landed 313 winners, 338 seconds and 329 thirds with more than $2.5 million in stakemoney from his drives.
Success didn’t come immediately to the talented reinsman and it took Chris 42 drives spread over 11 months before he landed his first winner, Impulsive Gift, at a Gloucester Park midweek meeting on February 2009.
Three years of hard work and persistence personified has since paid off for the young driver. In 2011 Chris won the WA Rising Stars Series and a part of his prize was a trip to Sydney to represent WA in the NSW Rising Stars Series, which he also took out.
In 2013 Chris competed in the Australasian Young Drivers Series, staged on a number of NSW tracks and culminating on Inter Dominion Grand Final Day at Menangle. Chris scored a memorable victory in the series from Josh Dickie (NZ), Ellen Tormey (Vic) and Rebecca Bartley (Vic).
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Turnbull Born For Trotting Success
Amanda Turnbull has trotting in her veins.
She is the daughter of Inter Dominion winning trainer/driver Steve Turnbull (Smooth Satin, 2002) and granddaughter of Inter Dominion winning trainer/driver Tony Turnbull (Hondo Grattan, 1973 & 74).
Amanda is into her eighth season in the gig and to date has accumulated 674 wins from her 3,097 drives.
Amanda started race driving during the 2005/006 season and managed 16 wins from 89 drives during her debut year.
By last season 2011/12, Amanda was busy, busy with 660 drives for 133 wins and 227 minor placings and already in the current season, has notched up 127 victories with 13 weeks still remaining.