August 18 is a date Jim Castles will never forget. Most importantly it is Jim’s wedding anniversary and he and his wife Monica are celebrating 53 years of wedded bliss in 2015. The veteran horseman has another reason to celebrate the date now after the 77-year-old became the oldest driver in NSW to win a race when Jaccka Turk won at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
What makes Jaccka Turk’s victory even more impressive is that the seven year old was having his first start since October 2014. Castles has enjoyed a long and successful harness racing career and has continued to train winners in recent years.
Castles has trained 36 winner this millennium but has not had as many starters this season as he has had in recent years. This season Castles has only had nine starters for one winner and one placing. He has averaged 45 runners a season in the previous five years.
There have been older drivers win races in other parts of Australia and there have been older trainers prepare winners in NSW. A.D Turnbull and Ray Lennane both trained winners at the age of 79 but neither were in the sulky for the victory.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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| Name: | Greg Hayes |
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| Email: | ghayes@hrnsw.com.au |
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