If Nathan Lyon taking 500 Test wickets makes him one of the G.O.A.Ts of spin bowling, then John Caldow notching up his 4000th win at Maryborough this week might just make him a harness racing immortal.
The 54-year-old reinsman reached the milestone aboard Time After Time, who led throughout to win the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Open Maiden Pace for wife and trainer Maree.
“It’s really nice to get over the line,” Caldow said.
“Something that everyone has been keeping an eye on, so it’s just more relief than anything.”
Caldow joins elite company with the likes of Kerryn Manning, Chris Alford, Gavin Lang and Daryl Douglas also part of the exclusive 4000 club here in Victoria.
“To be in that echelon, they’re great drivers, they are great people… it’s something you sit back now and think it’s really good to achieve that,” he said.
Caldow reached his milestone at Maryborough, the same place he met Maree, who has stuck by the reinsman through thick and thin.
“She’s a Maryborough girl, Maree. She has been with me through the good times and a lot of hard times,” he said.
“Without her I probably wouldn’t be able to achieve it to be fair. We have had a lot of good times as well as a lot of down times as much as good times.”
Caldow celebrated his 4000th winner with family on Monday night.
“We bred the horse and we ended up at Maryborough. Maree’s Mum was there with us as well. It was a special day,” he said.
“We went out to dinner with Lauren and Matt (children), saw a few friends and had a couple of quiet beers.
“It’s been a long journey and it’s quite good.”
