TWO tracks more than five hours apart made it a big 24 hours for ‘Bucket List’ reinsman Len Clement but he did it!
Prior to the weekend Len only had three more tracks to cross off before he completes ‘Len’s Bucket List’ of driving at every track across New South Wales. And after snaring drives in the final moments at both Peak Hill and Fairfield Carnival of Cups meetings, he only has one track to go . . . Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Saving the best for last, Len should have one of his own horses ready by the time he makes it to the spacious 1400m circuit, unlike this last weekend.
“I’ve been very busy up at home (Bendemeer) working with the National Cutting Horse Association so couldn’t have one of my own horses ready for this weekend but I’m aiming to bring down Atara Blue Chip to race at Menangle,” Len said.
“I need to drive at Menangle before mid July though as my wife Christine and I are house-sitting for a friend of ours, Peter Dennis, in the Riverina for three months.
“We met Peter and his wife when we were at Junee one night and have become good friends ever since.
“I’ll work a couple of Peter’s horses while they are away plus have a couple of my own to race down there.
“We really enjoyed ourselves last time we were in that region and met some great people so we are excited to go back there for a stint.”
But travelling to the Riverina isn’t the only agenda Len has in mind after he completes his ‘Bucket List’.
“My wife and I are considering spending a season out at Broken Hill,” Len said.
“We both loved it so much while we were out there and they only race for a few months of the year so we might take a couple of horses and stay the whole time.
“We had to leave before Broken Hill’s Carnival of Cups meeting last time so it would be good to make it next time around.”
Clement began his quest to drive at every track in New South Wales in the Western Districts last September. Some of the first tracks he drove at in this trip included Dubbo, Parkes and Eugowra. With their horse float that turns into a mini hotel when not being used to cart horses in, Len and Christine have gone as far south as Albury, as far west as Broken Hill and as far north as Inverell.
“It is unbelievable the amount of lovely people we have met,” Len said.
“It’s been a remarkable journey so far and the friends we have made along the way have far exceeded my expectations of what this trip was going to be like.”
Stay tuned for when Len heads to Menangle.
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