PACING
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THEY may not be the Keatons, but for Orange’s Jake Davis, harness racing is all about family ties.
Davis - also one of the Orange City Lions’ best in the Blowes Clothing Cup - has been helping his father Leigh and grandfather Ray train horses out of their Brown’s Creek stables for years and drives most of the trio’s charges as well.
“I’ve always been involved, since I was a young fella,” Davis said.
“It’s a hobby my family have been involved in forever, since my pop was my age.
“Being able to train horses with him and my dad is great, it keeps it interesting, we have the odd blue here and there, but we get a laugh out of it mostly.”
The Davis’ have three charges running in Sunday’s Orange Harness Racing Club meet in Bathurst, the first of two meetings the club will host at the multi-million dollar College Road complex, thanks to the current state of Highlands Paceway.
Taylah Studleigh will contest the Mullion Produce Three Year Old Pace (1730m), Midnight Bender will run in the Orange Veterinary Hospital Three Year Old Pace (1730m) while Moonshine Studleigh will start in the second row for the Colour City Pace (2260m).
“Ideally, we’d like to get three winners,” Davis said.
“But it’s really tough competition around this area at the moment, there’s plenty of good horses and drivers.
“But all three of ours have a good hope of getting to the line first.”
The youngest Davis, Jake, would normally drive all three chances, but has handed the reins to Bathurst’s Emma Turnbull for Sunday’s meet, as he’s heading to the HSBC Sydney Sevens for the weekend.
“Over the years I was always keen on having a crack, and when I turned 16 I got my licence and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he explained.
“I would usually drive them but I’m not available on Sunday so I won’t be driving this weekend. But Emma is one of the in-form drivers around the region, she’s getting a lot of winners so she’ll be fine, she’ll do a great job.”
The opening race at Bathurst, the Mullion Produce Three Year Old Pace (1730m), starts at 12.48pm on Sunday, and is the first of a bumper nine-race program.
