Tasmania’s newest harness racing trainer, Brent Norton, will be out to get his first training win when Sports Reader lines up in the Frank Crawford Memorial (2180m) in Burnie on Friday night.
Sports Reader provided Norton, 34, with his first start as a trainer, when fifth at Carrick Park on 25 January.
“I have had my licence for about six months. But it has been a childhood dream to be a trainer in my own right. The stars just hadn’t aligned for me over the years,” said Norton, who followed horses driven and prepared by his uncle, and Tasmanian Hall of Fame member, Tony Peterson, as a kid.
“I wasn’t hands-on as a kid, but I had the opportunity to learn from Brian Mackrill during high school, which I really benefited from and gained confidence with horses. I spent a couple of years on and off with thoroughbreds in my early 20s. But ultimately, I knew I had to come back to harness racing.
Norton, who has been involved in ownership with people such as Troy Hillier and his old footy coach, Stuart Prewer, bred Sports Reader himself, whom he also owns.
“This mare is the first foal we bred at home in Cressy, championed by my grandfather Gerald Norton. He had been breeding since the 50s. Unfortunately, we lost him in December.
“She has been a real project, over-racing and poor manners on the track. Which has been a big commitment and learning curve for me. I think I’ve got her right now, but it wouldn’t be without the support and guidance from Leigh Dornauf and Neville Rattray.
“I had pestered Leigh for a while about moving into one of the yards on track at Carrick, and the community of trainers and facilities out there has been second to none and without a Pacing Club like Carrick, I would have found it incredibly difficult to start out as a trainer.
“The modern era of work commitments and the nature of hobby training doesn’t allow you to maintain your own facilities to the necessary standard. I think this needs to be at the front of mind for the industry,” believes Norton.
Sports Reader has drawn barrier two in Friday’s race, with the trainer happy with how the mare has come through her first start.
“The mare should handle the track and show some speed.
“She has come through her first run for two years quite well and hopefully has improved from the outing. It was good for both of us to run at our home track and gain some confidence.
The six-race Burnie card commences at 17:37.
