All 10 winners at Mildura last night were either trained, driven or trained and driven by women.
It has many times been documented that women are at the very least on a level playing field in harness racing and just about gone completely are the days of references to female drivers as “lady drivers”.
As one of the industry’s leading drivers Kate Gath said in the Herald Sun last year: “I’m just a driver, I’m not a lady driver, I’m just like anyone else in the industry and that’s how it’s always been for me in my 18 years involved.”
At Mildura Jill Neilson, Jackie Barker, Claire Goble and Kate Attard all either trained or drove one winner, Danielle Hill, Michelle Phillips (pictured right) and Kate Hargreaves all had two winners and Sandra O’Connor trained three winners.
Meanwhile, Kylie Bevington trained a runner-up and Denbeigh Wade and Ellen Tormey both drove horses into second place on the 10-race card.
Currently in Victoria Emma Stewart is on top of the Renown Silverware State Trainers Premiership with Jess Tubbs fourth, Kate Gath leads the Schweppes Metropolitan Drivers Premiership, with Kima Frenning third, and Stewart is second on the Taylors Metropolitan Trainers Premiership with Margaret Lee in fifth.
In the Alabar Concession Drivers Premiership five of the top 10 young drivers are women, with Kima leading overall on 35 wins, Michelle Phillips in sixth, Jackie Barker in seventh, Tayla French in eighth and Abbey Turnbull in 10th.
Interesting in light of debate in gallops world this week – all 10 winners at @milduratrots on Wednesday night either trained or driven (or both) by females @TheTrotsComAu @TrotsClubsVic
— David Brehaut (@DavidBrehaut) October 30, 2019
Photo: Michelle Phillips, who drove a winning double at Mildura last night. By Ashlea Brennan Photography
