Hunter Valley horseman Shannon Lindsay has grown up around horses and has always dreamed of having success in one of the region’s biggest events, the Maitland’s Inter City Pace. Lindsay did drive a horse called Short Changed in the 1996 Inter City Pace final but finished down the track and while he has waited nearly 20 years for another chance he is hoping two horses he trains can make the final.
“Growing up in Cessnock, the Inter City Pace at Maitland was always a race I hoped to have success in one day and while it has been a long time since I drove in a final hopefully I get another chance this time around,” Lindsay said.
“My family has an association with the race because my mum became the first female driver to win a heat of the Inter City Pace in 1978 and I still have the photo of me sitting in Mum’s lap after the win.”
Lindsay’s two runners, Apollo Thirteen and Generals Daughter will compete in heats one and two respectively and importantly both have drawn the front row around the tight circuit.
“Apollo Thirteen has been racing really well since arriving from Victoria, he hasn’t missed a place in his six starts and importantly he has raced at Maitland and handled the track well.
“He has drawn barrier one and I haven’t had to ask him to charge out of the gate yet but looking at some of his races in Victoria he does have speed so I’ll definitely be looking to use the gate.”
Generals Daughter was formerly trained in the Riverina but has been racing well for Lindsay since August.
“I’m really happy with how she is going, I got a call from Michael Freeman her owner and he asked if I would be interested in taking some horses for him. I’ve never actually met him but I would like to see Generals Daughter qualify for the Inter City Pace for him.
“She does have tremendous gate speed and I’m not right up with the Sydney form but I’m going to try and cross the horses drawn inside me despite drawing six, I know it is a big ask with only a small run to the first corner at Maitland but that is my plan at this stage.”
It has been a big year for Lindsay as he decided to try his hand as a fulltime trainer.
“Dad always told me that I had to get an apprenticeship so I’m a qualified mechanic, although I have spent the last 17 years as a Freight Manager but decided this year to try and make it as a fulltime trainer.
“My wife and I bought a 20-acre property and I’ve been able to find some supportive owners and horses to train so to win a race like the Inter City Pace would definitely give me a good kick.
“My wife is working two jobs to help pay the mortgage and I’ve got Jordan Whiting giving me a hand so it really is a team effort but I’ve been really happy with how everything has been going so far.”
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