Champion South Australian harness racing participant Danielle Hill said she was “extremely proud” to have been named the winner of the inaugural Jim Hurley Medal.
“I had a fantastic 2015-2016 season and winning the Jim Hurley Medal was definitely the icing on the cake,” Hill said.
Hill drove an incredible 209 winners to win the South Australian Drivers’ premiership and trained 33 winners in the 2015-2016 season.
Harness Racing South Australia introduced the Jim Hurley Medal last season to recognise a trainer and/or driver who has performed at a consistently high level throughout the season. Votes are awarded at the end of each meeting.
In the Hurley medal, Hill polled 107 votes to win by four from Ryan Hryhorec (103) with Wayne Hill on 91 in third place.
Hill said she had the utmost respect for Jim Hurley who passed away aged 90 in March, 2015.
“Growing up in harness racing I had the utmost respect for Mr Hurley,” Hill said.
“I actually had a few drives for him and found him to be a wonderful man. To be still training and shoeing his own horses up to his passing was amazing and his record as a trainer and driver speaks for itself – he is a legend of harness racing.”
Hill said to have won the drivers’ premiership had been a goal which was now ticked off her bucket list.
“To be honest it was something I was proud to achieve as a person, not as a female. While it is nice to be recognised as achieving as a woman, it was great to win the premiership as myself.”
Hill said she had been aware of the naming of the winner of the Jim Hurley medal at the Harness Racing South Australia awards day at the Grange Golf Club but had not thought too much about winning it.
“I knew I had had a great season but when I saw the top 10, I thought everyone would have been a worthy winner and it was a surprise when my name was called out. To have won the inaugural Jim Hurley Medal will always be something special in my career.”
Hill said she it was highly unlikely she would reach the driving heights of last season
“I don’t think I will be chasing to drive as many winners this season. I love training and my emphasis has switched this season as I try to build a strong team of horses. I’m not sure I will be going to as many meetings as I did last season. Lis Tureen, Cheap Tint and Rocktellz give me a good base but it is hard to find horses to increase your quality.”
Jim Hurley
Jim Hurley had a career in harness racing spanning more than 50 years.
Affectionately known as ‘Gentleman Jim’ Hurley was happy to help anyone seeking information right through to his passing aged 90 in March, 2015.
Hurley won more than 1000 races, including being an owner of 1964 Inter Dominion winner, Minuteman.
Trained and driven by his brother Eric, Minuteman was part-owned by Jim, his brother and their sister, Phyllis.
In January 2015, Hurley trained Heza Presidente to compete in the South Australia Cup, a race Minuteman captured in 1966.
In the 1984 series at Globe Derby Park, Hurley had his own Inter Dominion finalist in Guvs Pride and won a heat and a consolation with The Rattler.
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