Reinsman Matthew Harrington has been waiting a long time to enjoy the ‘winning feeling’ but finally got to appreciate the sensation when Miss Ponder scored at Leeton last Friday. Miss Ponder was Harrington’s 59th drive after competing in his first race on September 12 last year.
Harrington confirmed he had been getting frustrated in an attempt to steer home his first winner but knew if he was patient he would be rewarded.
“I haven’t had much luck with draws and on a few occasions things didn’t fall my way out on the track but everything happened perfectly with Miss Ponder last Friday,” Harrington said.
“I thought at the bell she was travelling pretty strongly but I was three back on the pegs and knew I was going to need some luck and when the horse behind the leader started to struggle it actually helped me get off the inside.”
While the official winning margin was one and a half metres, Harrington was unsure whether he had arrived in time and had to face a nervous wait to hear if he had won.
“The angle at Leeton is really hard to get a gauge on, I knew I was right in the finish but I didn’t get too excited straight away because I wasn’t quite sure.
“I was a little bit lost for words after I won, it meant a lot to me and the support Paul Kahlefeldt has given me since I started in the industry has been unbelievable and without him I would never have been given the opportunity.”
Harrington is the grandson of former trainer Claude Bevan and spent a lot of time around horses from an early age.
“I was born in Marrar which is a small town between Wagga and Coolamon and there have been horses around since I was born but when I was about eight I started helping Pop out with the couple that he had.
“One day at the races when I was 16 or 17 I met Paul Kahlefeldt and talked to him about wanting to become involved in harness racing and when I turned up at the races the next week he offered me a job.”
That was nearly six years ago and Harrington has enjoyed the opportunities he has been given by Kahlefeldt.
“I get the chance to work with a lot of nice horses working for Paul and after a couple of years working for him I thought I would give driving a go.
“It took me 18 months to complete the Junior Drivers course and another six to complete my trial drives.”
It was no surprise one of the first people to congratulate Harrington on his first victory was Kahlefeldt.
“Paul had to leave Leeton to take some horses home before Miss Ponder’s race but he got in contact with me soon after and was really excited for me, hopefully I can continue on now.”
Greg Hayes
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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