By Michael Guerin
A losing bet changed Jack Harrington’s life.
The 23-year-old Kiwi with no family history in racing found himself in the harness racing spotlight at Melton yesterday when his diminutive filly Renezmae bolted away with the Breeders Crown two-year-old fillies trot.
It wasn’t the biggest or best victory of the day and Renezmae may have been aided by some key rivals doing things wrong while driver Dexter Dunn had her sailing along in front.
A natural speedster, she had her rivals in trouble a long way from home and will return to New Zealand with his future broodmare career already guaranteed.
But the group one victory was the first of what looks to be many career highlights for Harrington, one of the youngest group one-winning trainers in New Zealand harness racing history.
“I am buzzing and when I was being interviewed on the track after the race I was welling up. I was worried I was gonna start crying,” laughed Harrington.
“But if was bloody satisfying because we decided to set her for this before she even raced.
“We knew she was good and this was a great chance for a group one win so to come over here and win a Breeders Crown, it takes a bit of getting your head around.”
While harness racing is dominated by family dynasties, Harrington has no racing backround.
“My Dad likes a bet and one day I went to the Methven trots with him, I was only a young fella, I had a $5 bet and the thing I backed ran second.
“I was watching the drivers and thinking, ‘I could do that’ and started ringing trainers the next day to look for a job.”
After working for the likes of Andrew Stuart and Tim Butt, Harrington has made huge strides in just a few years as a trainer, with 20 horses waiting him when he gets back to Canterbury as well as a handy junior driving career.
“I’ve had great support and its been a lot bigger start to my career than I could have dreamed of. And hopefully a win like this helps even more.”
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