John Maher has told his incredible life story during a special interview on SENTrack’s TrotsLife this week.
Maher’s brother purchased their first standardbred in 1972 and without even having touched a horse he was empowered to train him.
Norm Gath then took him under his wing and a budding hobby that netted six wins ensued.
Over time, work and family took priority and John’s hands-on career in the trots took a back seat as he focused on owning and breeding horses.
In 1992 everything changed. John was seriously injured in a car crash and told he’d never work again. As bad as that was, nothing prepared him for what was to come. In 1995, John’s youngest of four daughters, 18-year-old Carmen, took a friend to work in Bendigo and while driving home fell asleep at the wheel and was killed.
Amidst the devastation, John’s love of harness racing had a small role to play in the family’s healing process with a filly – born in October 1995 – named in his late daughter’s honour.
What did Carmen Leah the horse’s 60 race starts mean? What did the six wins mean? What did running 10th in a Group 1 race mean?
“Carmen Leah the horse was incredibly healing,” he told TrotsLife.
John has dedicated his life to educating society on the dangers of driving while fatigued, including penning a book in honour of his daughter. To get more information or a copy, head to https://carmen.com.au/
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW:
