The first prize for this year’s Garrards Young Guns Series will be a money-can’t-buy trip to the United States, featuring an exclusive training and racing experience with the New York-based powerhouse team of Shane and Lauren Tritton.
The husband-and-wife duo relocated to Pine Bush, Upstate New York, in 2020 and have quickly become one of the most influential stables in North American harness racing.
The Trittons have continued to deliver at the highest level with multiple Group 1 victories, preparing some of the sport’s biggest names such as Nandolo, It’s A Me Mario and Lochinvar Art.
“The Young Guns Series is a terrific initiative, and Team Tritton is only too happy to support the next generation coming through, offering them the unique perspective the US provides with a different approach to preparing and racing standardbreds,” Shane Tritton said.
Lauren Tritton made global history earlier this year when the 31-year-old mother of two became the first female driver to land three winners at The Meadowlands in a single meeting.
“I would have loved to be part of a series like this when I was coming through the driving ranks back home in Australia,” Lauren Tritton said.
“We supported James Herbertson with drives when he came over earlier this year, and there’s a Lady Drivers Invitational in March — I’d love to see one of the girls involved in that if they’re successful in the series.”
Prize package (courtesy of Garrards Horse And Hound):
- Return economy airfares to Newark, New York
- All transfers
- Accommodation
- Training experience with Shane and Lauren Tritton at their Pine Cliff Stables
- Raceday experiences (to be confirmed)
- Potential race-driving opportunities at Pocono, Meadowlands or Yonkers (subject to approval)
This year’s prize builds on the success of Herbertson’s 2024 trip to Sweden, where he joined leading trainer Jörgen Westholm and experienced the famed Elitloppet carnival.
The Young Guns working committee plans to continue rotating the international experience each year, offering emerging Victorian drivers the opportunity to learn from world-class horse people across the globe.
The top 10 under-25 Victorian-licensed drivers based on season wins up to and including November 30 will earn a spot in the Young Guns Series at Melton.
They will compete in ratings-exempt races throughout the New Year’s Eve meeting, with a sliding points scale based on finishing positions used to declare an overall winner.
