2003 Horsham Drivers' Series

25 March 2003
Logo
NOG2001 Template

Queensland visitor Mathew Neilson upstaged an elite line-up to secure top honors in the 2003 Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers? Championship at Horsham on Monday afternoon.

Neilson (pictured second from right) claimed the 14th annual series on a countback, after finishing tied with defending titleholder Daryl Douglas on 25 points.

He won the opening race of the series with $10.00 chance Mintmarke, then partnered $26.00 outsider Bobby Rob into second position in race two. A sixth placing on Nugget Miller in the third and final race was enough to claim victory.

Neilson, who was invited to contest the series for the first time, received a commemorative trophy and Sprint 2000 race sulky for his efforts.

Ironically, the Sunshine State visitor was also presented with three nights? accommodation at Ocean Plaza Resort at Coolangatta.

Douglas finished runner-up after being narrowly denied a third consecutive victory in the Championship, while Chris Alford was third.

The auspicious wooden spoon trophy was won by Tasmanian Barry Rattray whose debut in the series yielded a ninth and two eighth placings for a total of eight points.

The Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers? Series is dedicated to the memory of the late Noel Smith who passed away in June, 1994.

He was a former president and delegate for the Horsham Harness Racing Club who made an enormous contribution to harness racing in Victoria through his tireless work with the South West Zone, and the Metropolitan and Country Trotting Association.

?

Final Points: Mathew Neilson 25, Daryl Douglas 25, Chris Alford 23, Kerryn Gath 21, Jodi Quinlan 17, Geoff Webster 15, Gavin Lang 14, John Caldow 13, Darren Hancock 11, Barry Rattray 8.

?

To access the Horsham Harness racing Club?s homepage, please click here: www.harness.org.au/horsham

 

Related News

18 September 2024
Third good enough to complete TAB punter's $18,500 collect
He might have been well beaten into third, but Playnice’s minor placing was music to the ears of one TAB customer at Shepparton last week.
18 September 2024
A reason to smile for Patsy as a Group 1 helps warm spirits
The joys of what a Group 1 win can bring couldn’t be more evident then the smile that lit up 92-year-old majority owner Patsy Abrahams’ face after Rapid Return hit the line first in Saturday night’s Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old trotting mares.
18 September 2024
Huntsville... is he the next Super Sire Down Under?
It's astonishing to see how much Huntsville has accomplished in Australia from a single racing crop. The leading son of Somebeachsomewhere, was a $1.8 million-dollar earner who not only boastsan impressive race record, but also a breeders dream when it comes to mare matching. His Dam Wild West Show...
18 September 2024
Grimson sets sights on Victoria
JASON Grimson could have as many as four runners in his quest to win the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup for the first time. Grimson, 31, has been a revelation in Australia’s training ranks since Boncel Benjamin’s upset win on protest in the 2021 Sydney Inter Dominion. Although he won the 2022...
18 September 2024
Reed Confident Draw Won't Bother Wonder Filly Water Lou
Water Lou wasn’t blessed with a barrier draw on Friday night in the $50,000 Daintys Daughter Classic, but trainer Mike Reed isn’t too phased, stating “I still think she can win, she’s the best horse in the race, she drew nine when she beat the boys. “On Saturday morning...
Click for more