Champion reinsman Chris Alford has produced the greatest season by an Australian driver, officially breaking new ground with win number 389 at Geelong tonight.
With a victory on $13-shot Dependlebury in the Flying Brick Original Cider Pace, Alford moved past Daryl Douglas’ season record of 388 wins that had stood since the 2007-08 season.
“It’s a mark that may never be beaten,” caller Dan Mielicki told Trots Vision in the wake of Alford’s win. “400 is in danger, and that’s a record that will stand for a very, very long time.”
Alford entered today one shy of Douglas’ record but won with his family’s two-year-old trotting filly Sleepee at Stawell today and then made the 210km trek to Geelong to steer Dependlebury to an against-the-odds win.
The achievement attracted much praise from his peers and trots fans.
Total admiration for this achievement. An unrelenting work ethic to match his talent https://t.co/rqTiayze4C
— Andy Gath (@apgath68) July 19, 2018
Legend! He’s the best I have seen @ChrisAlford5000 – Congratulations Chris. https://t.co/JIjQhlISeU
— Gareth Hall (@ghall27) July 19, 2018
Often in this game we mitigate legendary achievements by saying great trainers & drivers have the ‘best horses’ so should succeed in life. Truth is @ChrisAlford5000 has driven more ‘ordinary’ horses to success this term than anyone ever. Tonight is his night #thelegendgrows #389
— Jason Bonnington (@JasonBonnington) July 19, 2018
He really is different gravy …. congrats @ChrisAlford5000 #thebest
— Fred Hastings (@HastingsFred) July 19, 2018
What an absolute star @ChrisAlford5000 is. The record breaker. pic.twitter.com/EQB2troElt
— Brett Coffey (@brettcoffey) July 19, 2018
Congrats @ChrisAlford5000 on 389 wins #trots #geelong pic.twitter.com/ZUldH9r2ZS
— Geelong Harness RC (@GeelongHarnessR) July 19, 2018
Maori Legend winner number 3 Sleepee driven by Chris Alford evening the record can he get another in @GeelongHarnessR @AVHRC @TheTrotsComAu pic.twitter.com/QtSY1VKF6g
— Stawell Harness RC (@StawellHarnessR) July 19, 2018
And that’s 388 wins in 2017-18 for @ChrisAlford5000, tying the all-time national single season record set by Daryl Douglas.
Puppet claimed a share of the title when Sleepee saluted @StawellHarnessR for wife Alison.#Congrats #TheTrots pic.twitter.com/ymv8isGTsO— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) July 19, 2018
