13 November 2018 | AMANDA RANDO
LEADING reinsman Chris Geary became the youngest driver in New South Wales to reach 500 winners.
The 20-year-old has piloted 508 winners overall and achieved the 500-milestone last month.
He is the second youngest driver to achieve the feat in Australia with Queensland’s Pete McMullen claiming the top honour at the age of 20 and three months while Geary was 20 years and 10 months old.
“It’s something pretty special for me, more so that I’ve never really been the number one driver for a large stable,” said Geary.
“In saying that, I’ve had great support from many stables and hope it continues into the future.”
Geary has driven Group winners and won some of Australasia’s biggest races since he began driving in November 2013, including the Gold Tiara and the Len Smith Mile.
It took him five drives to land his first winner and that was Western Gailes at Bankstown on December 7, 2013.
“I’ve been fortunate to have been associated with some nice horses like My Sweetchilliphilly, Cruz Bromac, The Black Prince, Miss Streisand and many others,” said Geary.
“But I’ve always really enjoyed the driving trips that I have been lucky enough to go on, meeting new people and travelling around Australia.”
Geary will represent NSW in the upcoming Australasian Young Drivers Series that takes place in Queensland from November 22.
As for NSW records, Lauren Tritton is the youngest female driver to reach 500 winners.
Others such as Luke McCarthy, Amanda Turnbull, Robert Morris and Blake Fitzpatrick also sit amongst the top 10 youngest drivers in Australia when they reached the 500-win milestone.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
