Star South Australian reinsman Mark Billinger achieved a personal goal at Port Pirie last Friday night when he drove his 1000th career victory.
“I felt a sense of achievement with the win,” Billinger said.
“I was talking with a friend of mine David Thuen, (who now works in the racing department of Harness Racing South Australia) earlier this year and he found out that I had driven in the high 900s, so the 1000 became a target.
“Before Friday night’s Port Pirie meeting he confirmed I was on 999 and I had some good drives so I was hopeful of reaching the mark.”
Ironically, the target was reached on Our Little Artist in race two, the Port Pirie Regional Council Pace (2050m).
Ironic, because the four-year-old mare is one of only two horses Billinger trains, the other is a two-year-old, and the mare’s dam is Saved A Corka, a family which has produced perhaps 200 of Billinger’s winners.
“I couldn’t guess the number of winners from the family of our original purchase Uncork.”
What Billinger’s father Val did with the purchase of Uncork was actually uncork a breeding goldmine.
“Hes A Corka won 45, Saved A Corka 27, Aspiring Artist 12 and now Our Little Artist has won 13, then there is Come on Frank who has won more than 50 – I would have driven in excess of 100 on horses from the mare and her family.”
The 1000 mark was also an early birthday present for Billinger who turns 43 this week.
“It has taken me 27 years to reach the mark but I have to say early the winners came slowly because I heeded the words of my parents who said there was no money in horses and to make sure I had a job and worked hard.
“So I started work at Holdens which stopped me from driving as much as I would have liked but I did well with the company and a few years ago was able to get a good payout when I left.
“Now I am semi-retired with my occupation being a harness racing driver and being able to get to all meetings in South Australia the winners have started to come quicker. I have to give thanks to the trainers and owners who have supported me because without them it would not have been possible to get to the 1000 winners.”
Billinger also believes to stay at the top of your game it is important to take a few breaks through the year and shortly he will be off to Vietnam for several weeks.
“I like South-East Asia and head off a few times during the year – I have friends over there and this trip will catch up with another harness identity Bruce Williams from the South-East who had the Long Tan horses.”
Billinger said he only ever trains one or two horses as a hobby but is delighted with the form of Our Little Artist.
“She has probably gone through her classes a bit too quick and will find the racing tougher now but she has been peeling off halves in 56 so with the right run can remain competitive,” he said.
“I might be tempted to head interstate with her later in the season when hopefully it might be a bit easier to pick a race.”
Billinger said the best horses he has driven have been Friends For Life, Ohoka Nevada and Hes A Corka.
“I was lucky enough to drive Friends For Life in an Inter Dominion series in Brisbane. We didn’t make the final but it was a great thrill. Ohoka Nevada was a good horse and I did win a Mildura Cup on him while Hes A Corka was a top horse here winning so many races.”
Billinger is already on the path to 2000 winners.
He reached 1001 later in the evening at Port Pirie with Few Good Men, the 11-year-old warhorse, with a driven that was a classic making ground from the tail of the field, and taking a sprint lane run up the home straight.
