Fred Spiteri’s passion and perseverance saw him presented the Colin Redwood Award when the Victorian Square Trotters Association held its annual awards night on Saturday.
Spiteri’s trots career began in 1985 when he started with pacers Payroll Chief and Payroll Two, with the former bringing him his first race victory while the latter began his foray into trotters.
“I grew up around horses and I always wanted to get one, but I actually did an apprenticeship first and got myself sorted in that part of life,” Spiteri told Trots Life. “Then I thought it is time to venture out and get a horse.
“I bought Payroll Chief for $700. Payroll Two, a lot of ability, he was a pacer and then I turned him into a trotter.”
Spiteri has juggled his full-time career as a carpenter with his part-time career as a harness trainer and enjoyed many memorable days, including Boxing Day in 1997 when he landed a double at Elmore including the cup with Charlie Chatterbox.
In 2017, Fling About entered the scene and brought him his first metro win and Group 1 win in one hit, when she saluted in the 2017 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic final.
From there the hopple trips have been few and far between as his stable has become mostly trotters, including the 2020 Vicbred Super Series three-year-old trotting fillies winner Majestical Belle.
“Majestical Belle has been a lovely horse for me, we bought her at the sales, we only paid $6000 for her, she has won over $100,000 now.”
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The Victorian Square Trotters Associaton awards lauded long-time participants, new stars and the outstanding horses of 2021. Click here for all the awards.
