‘FACES’ of the Industry
NATHAN TURVEY
NUMBER 29. A number the then South Fremantle state wingman would never forget for Nathan was the 29th AFL draft pick in 1996.
In 1998, Turvey played his first game for the Hawthorn Football Club, where he went on to play a further nine games before being delisted prior to the 2000 season. Turvey describes his time in the AFL as a good experience but if he could, he would do a few things differently.
In 2001 Turvey was first licenced in harness racing. Born and raised in Narrogin, Turvey learnt the ropes from his Father Neville and helped his dad around the stables before school and on the weekends.
Having had all of his trials successfully completed whilst he was still in school, Nathan had the world at his feet as he decided which career path to go down. At the time, 17 year old Turvey was juggling playing football for South Fremantle whilst working full-time at Jim Kid Sports in Fremantle for two years before he got drafted.
After his short stint in the AFL, Turvey returned to the harness racing game working for thoroughbred Group One winning trainer and well respected harness racing identity Grant Williams alongside fellow reinsman Ryan Warwick. Turvey worked with Williams for five years before going out on his own, training and driving full-time.
Situated in Baldivis approximately 40km south of Perth, Turvey has a team of thirteen horses and is an admired mentor to concession up and coming driver Jocelyn Young. Having her first city winner on the Turvey trained Wynberg Terror, Young believes that Turvey has been a major influence in her career so far in harness racing and admits she still has a lot that she can learn from him.
Turvey experienced great victories when he drove his part-owned filly Bethany Aitch over the line to win the 2YO Fillies Diamond Classic Final in June 2015 at Bunbury Trotting Club giving him his first Group One winner as a trainer.
Other Group One successes have arisen from his strong driving capabilities winning the 2006 2YO Colts & Geldings State Sires Series in 2006 with Jack Cantell for Narrogin Trainer Jim Draper, the 2015 Golden Slipper with the Gary Elson trained Sprinter and his latest Group One victory, the Owners Only 3YO Westbred Colts and Geldings Pace with New World Order for trainer Ray Williams.
Turvey explains his win with Sprinter at Ballarat in the Victoria Derby Heat as one of his most memorable moments in racing thus far, with his first AFL game being his most memorable moment in general.
From playing football at the elite level to training and driving horses in Group One victories, Turvey has no long term goals other than to be happy and enjoying whatever it is that he may be doing and was quite shocked to find out he had his own page on Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia with his words being “How do you even spell that?”
Best compliment ever received: “Your hair is starting to grow back”
If you could be a celebrity for a day who would it be: Whoever Liz Hurley’s boyfriend is
Who do you think is the best driver: Gavin Lang
Who do you think is the best trainer: Grant Williams
Best looking person in harness racing: I have no problem being stabled near the Brown’s and Belton’s on a Friday night but Cliff Woodworth in a pair of blue stubbies riding at Kwinana beach left a lasting impression.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
