The feature race double at Wagga on Sunday would have put a smile on the faces of Craig and Abbey Turnbull during an extremely difficult time for the family.
Harness racing legend Tony Turnbull – Craig’s father and Abbey’s grandfather – passed away in the early hours of this morning following a stroke he suffered about a week earlier.
Craig and Abbey learned of the sad news during the trip home to Tatura, after Jemsoms Pet and Heritage Lady had scored respective victories in the Wagga Pacers Cup and Wagga Oaks.
Jemsoms Pet led from start to finish to score victory in the $20,400 event before Heritage Lady showcased a scintillating turn of foot first-up from a spell to claim the three-year-old feature for the fillies.
Craig said he had contemplated not going to the races, but said his father was somebody who liked to “keep the show running”.
He said the wins were emotional ones given the circumstances, but also nice moments during a tough period.
“We got the news when we were about three quarters of the way home,” he said.
“He had a stroke about the same time the week before and sort of went down hill.
“Obviously, he was in his 90s, but he was still going quite good. I think Abbey won a race on the Sunday night and he was first on the phone to say how good she drove it and things like that. A few hours later unfortunately he had the stroke.”
Tony Turnbull, a champion trainer-driver from New South Wales, was the first Australian to reach 2000 winners in the sulky and is perhaps best known for his association with Hondo Grattan, who won a Miracle Mile and two Inter Dominion titles.
He died aged 91.
The victory of Jemsoms Pet was also an emotional one for the horse’s part-owner and former trainer Greg Lewis.
Lewis gave Craig Turnbull the son of Pet Rock to train following the passing of his wife Wendy and due to his own health battles, and the four-year-old has remained there ever since.
“He seemed to really like it here and we fell in love with him as well. (Lewis) decided to keep him here which we greatly appreciated,” Craig said.
“He’s a lovely horse, very strong and he looks as though he’s come back really good.”
Sunday’s success in the Pacers Cup was the horse’s fourth for team Turnbull, with driver Abbey carrying a piece of Lewis’ wife’s jewellery during the race.
It took Jemsoms Pet 27 starts to land a maiden career win, but he now has seven from 50 trips to the races for close to $80,000 in prizemoney.
