April 13, 2012, was the last time Debra Pace had a starter, but now the Toolern Vale horsewoman is set to make her training return this Wednesday at Horsham.
The last time Pace had a runner Queen Elizabeth II had just celebrated her 60th year as monarch.
A passion and for harness racing has brought Pace back to the trots.
“A love of the game has brought me back,” Pace said.
“Sometimes in life you change eras and you have kids grow up and they move on and you wonder what you will do and I thought I will go back to harness racing.
“I 100 per cent missed it. I always said to my husband ‘I would go back in a heartbeat.’”
Family and lifestyle were the main reasons Pace took a break from the sport she loves.
“My kids grew up and my son was quite a high-level platform diver, we just couldn’t burn the candle and both ends,” the 51-year-old said.
“You can always come back to the sport and that’s what I love about racing and horses, it doesn’t matter what age you are – you can always come back to the horses.”
The Toolern Vale horsewoman will prepare Ashante Prince and Herbert in the opening two events on the Wednesday afternoon Horsham card.
“I didn’t find it hard to get back into the routine this time around, maybe quicker this time round then the first time,” she said.
“I don’t feel anything per say, the two horses – one is a first-time starter (Ashante Prince) so let’s see how they go, if they both run a nice race – they both run a nice race.”
Pace’s charges will be piloted by husband Ray who has also spent time away from the game.
“This will be Ray’s (Pace) first race drive in eight years and it is a team effort,” Debra Pace said.
“It is a family affair, it is great cause you can bounce off stuff, it makes it easy and you can have a chat and do the best for the horse.
“We are going well on this journey we can -see what we can come up with.”
