By Matt Markham
Dave McKenzie had to wait a long time to train his first winner, but then again it wasn’t that long at all.
The North Canterbury horseman has only had his licence for a season, but after getting involved in the harness racing industry 30 years ago, that first training win has been a long time in coming, even if the retired brick and blocklayer never imagined he’d end up training horses.
McKenzie’s debut winner came on Sunday at Rangiora when That’s Bettor overcame a second line draw to win impressively in the hands of Robbie Holmes.
And it’s Holmes who McKenzie needs to thanks for getting him his first training win because it was at his suggestion that he took his licence out in the first place.
“I help Robbie out at his stables,” McKenzie said.
“I probably do 30 hours a week out there, it’s potentially busier than when I was doing the brick and blocklaying.
“But he suggested that I should get my licence to train That’s Bettor and he’s been a great help in getting things going.”
McKenzie’s initial interest in harness racing spawned in South Canterbury through Dave Gaffaney and it’s slowly smouldered away since.
When he moved to Rangiora 10 years ago he got to know Brent Weaver and it’s through him that That’s Bettor came about.
“We got him on Brent’s suggestion, I remember going and looking at him and next thing we knew we owned him.”
The now eight-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has had close to 130 starts and won 10 and placed on 26 occasions and given McKenzie some great thrills.
“He’s a bit of a favourite, but he’s also been a good horse to us along the way too.
“It’s going to get hard to place him now, he wasn’t far away from dropping into C1, but now he’s C3 so it will be a bit harder for him.”
McKenzie has nominated That’s Bettor for Sunday’s meeting at Addington.
That’s Bettor and a Great Success colt out of Toldyah, who is a full brother to Successful Woman who McKenzie’s races with Weaver, are the only horses he has in work.
“We’ve got Toldyah here now as well to breed from so it’s getting quite busy.
“I’ve been very lucky that I have had guys like Brent and Robbie to bounce ideas off, Robbie has been fantastic to learn from over the past wee while.
“He’s given me a lot of advice and it was nice to have him driving my first winner.”
Holmes has been in a particularly strong patch of form recently and picked up a double on Sunday in the sulky with his own runner, Gabby’s Star also winning.
The gelding, bred by the Morley’s who raced his dam, Gabby’s Girl, dropped back from racing some strong fields and was too good after missing away, winning comfortably.
That took Holmes to 25 training wins for the season after Ballymore Boy won at big odds at Addington Friday night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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