18 November 2019 | Alan Parker
When the 4yo Alta Christiano mare Dixie Belle won at Pinjarra this afternoon she gave her owners Greg and Janice Starkie their first win for more than 22 years.
Dixie Belle was trained and driven by Aldo Cortopassi and started a prohibitive favourite at $1.10.
Greg Starkie last raced a horse in his name when Midnight Son, a horse he also bred, won at Narrogin on 14th April 1993.
In 1993 Midnight Son was trained to four wins by Noel Keiley and in 1995 the horse was transferred into the names of Wendy Williams and Janice Starkie and trained by Rick Williams to a further seven wins including three at Gloucester Park.
Greg Starkie has never lost his interest in harness racing even though he lives in the Southwest town of Manjimup some 300 kilometres from Perth and today’s win was a fitting reward for perseverance.
Greg’s uncle Gil Starkie was a well-known trainer/driver in the fifties from his stables in White Gum Valley, while his grand-father Ted Starkie was one of the State’s leading horsemen in 1912.
This was a time when the WA Trotting Association used to run their race-meetings at the Claremont Showgrounds while negotiating to lease facilities at the WACA Ground across the road from the current Gloucester Park track.
Ted Starkie reined some 59 winners between 1911 and 1947 with his best being the Van Osterley gelding Flying Arrow which won a dozen races at the Claremont, WACA and Goodwood tracks.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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