Mel Thackeray has had a long involvement in harness racing, but not many days would have topped the one she experienced at Shepparton on the weekend.
While heavily involved in the breeding side of the industry for a long time, Thackeray only recently took up race driving at age 45.
And at just her sixth drive, she piloted her first-ever winner in the sulky when Hancocks Hero dug deep to score a narrow success in the Guardline Security Services Pace (second heat) on Sunday.
The horse is trained by Thackeray’s husband Danny, who started her passion for the sport when the pair met over two decades ago.
Harness Racing Victoria’s Nikkita Ross used the wonders of modern technology to chat with Thackeray on Sunday in what was a brief, but fascinating conversation with the Nagambie horsewoman.
“I used to always drive at home, jog them or fast work them at home,” she said.
“But then you sort of breed them, you foal them down, you wean them, you break them in, you get them to the track and then you hand the reins over. It’s nice to get them and go that one step further because you know their ins and outs.
“I’m happy to just go along with the flow at the moment and just see where it takes me. And to have a bit of fun along the way.”
Thackeray, who has trained 18 winners from just 60 starters over the years, works alongside Danny at Aldebaran Park.
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