Cranbourne to honour Lewis and Stewart on ‘Girls Night Out’

The Cranbourne harness racing community will on Saturday night remember the contributions two women made to the industry.

Cranbourne Harness Racing Club has dedicated memorial races to Dani Lewis and Janine Stewart as part of its “Girls Night Out” meeting.

The event will raise money for WomenCan, which funds cancer research through the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group.

Lewis and Stewart had places in the hearts of many, with trainer-driver Simone Walker among them.

“Both were beautiful people,” she said.

She said it was wonderful they were being honoured on such a special night.

Walker was a close friend of Lewis, who died in a tragic accident at the Cranbourne Harness Racing Training Centre in September 2014. She was 28.

Lewis was formally introduced to the sport as a 15-year-old when she joined Gippsland Harness Training Centre. She had stints with several trainers – including time with New Zealand legend Tony Herlihy – and after making her driving debut in 2005-06, had the thrill of landing her first winner with Gunnas Rule at Warragul in October 2008.

As a reinswoman, Lewis had 10 winners from 135 drives.

Walker said looking after the horses was a real passion for Lewis.

“She took so much pride in how they were presented and how happy they were.”

The Dani Lewis Memorial Pace is run annually for female drivers. Walker has been a regular participant in the event, but this year she will be an onlooker with Taylor Ford, Jackie Barker, Jordan Chibnall, Lisa Miles, Jodi Quinlan, Kate Gath, Shannon O’Sullivan and Ellen Tormey in the sulkies.

Stewart died in September 2019 after a battle with cancer.

It was a little more than two years after the mother and grandmother had acquired a trainer’s licence, having graduated as a mature age student from the Gippsland Harness Training Centre in 2016.

Glam Rock had her first win as a trainer at Warragul in June 2017.

Walker said she got to know Stewart as an owner in a Cranbourne Club 21 all-female syndicate.

While there will be plenty of emotion attached to these races for Walker, she will also have a role to play in the Decron Preux Chevalier Free For All later on the nine-race card.

She has the drive on pole marker Denis William, who she trains with partner Andrew Walker.

Denis William has won just once (at Melton in March) in 11 starts this season, with Simone Walker attributing his struggle to put in better performances to the five-year-old not being ready for free-for-all company.
“He’s running out of his class,” she said.

“The rating system means he’s reached this level too soon.

“He’s not mentally ready to race against these horses yet.”

Max Delight, Bondi Lockdown and Supreme Dominator dominate the market.