South Australian trainer-driver Alan Smith will be added to Harness Racing Australia’s prestigious ‘Notable Feats’ list.
The eighty-year-old drove The Dutchman to victory at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night and has people questioning whether he was the oldest driver to win a metropolitan race in South Australia.
It was also Smith’s second driving success at his current age having driven Strathmore Queen to victory at Globe Derby Park on Friday, April 29.
Another unusual aspect of Saturday night, was that not only did Alan Smith drive a winner, so too did his son David (Little Tweek), and grandson Michael (Presidentmach).
Less than a week earlier, on Monday, May 23, the Smith family supplied a race trifecta with David (Twiggy Argyle) beating Michael (Major Stature) with Alan (Strathmore Queen) coming in third in the
Just Wrecking Toyota Trotters Handicap.
Don’t look for Smith stretching his record to age 81.
“I’m not planning to renew my (driver) licence next season,” Smith said.
“I’ve had a great career but I think it is time to just train a few and give away the driving.
“My first winner was Coronation Day at Port Pirie and I think I was about 17.”
While people can marvel at Smith’s effort, the driver said his father Frank was still driving fast work when he was aged 94.
“Yes, Dad and I drove work when Days Road (now the site of the Angle Park greyhound track) was a training centre back in the 60s and early 70s.”
On Saturday night, The Dutchman, backed from $2.80 into $1.70 favourite, scored an 8-1/2 metre win from Miss In Majorca ($27) with Elementofdoubt ($14.70) a metre away third.
The Dutchman came off 10 metres and settled second behind Elementofdoubt which had begun a bit quicker from the same handicap.
“He was starting to get a bit fierce early so I decided to come off and go to the front after about 200 metres and once in front he trotted a lot better,” Smith said.
Once in front Smith kept the eight-year-old going with quarters of 30.7, 31.3, 31.9 and 31.8 showing he was a great judge of speed and knew his horse and The Dutchman won easily.
Smith said he five horses in work of which four were trotters with just one pacer.
“I actually prefer pacers because with trotters one day you have them, then the next day you don’t,” Smith said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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