WITH a series of wins under her belt, Inverell based harness racing veteran Julie Hobday is gearing up for a busy season.
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Together with her father Col Hobday, Julie maintains the family interest in Standard Bred horses and the harness racing game.
She’s just returned from a hard five weeks on the road, at shows and race meetings, and was in the middle of getting horses and equipment ready for events at Bangalow.
After wins Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9 at Newcastle with ManofLisa, and at Maitland with Secret Smile, the Hobday family are in no doubt they are in for a good season of racing.
As she prepared six-year-old gelding Playboys Holiday (he has already won 11 races, and his good temperament and promise has cemented his place in the Hobday stables and made him one of Julie’s favourites) for his trip to Bangalow, Julie spoke about her introduction to racing.
As a child Julie rode horses and was influenced by her father, who had ridden bulls and horses before becoming interested in the harness racing industry, and particularly Standard Bred horses.
However serious drought brought with it some heartbreaking choices. Which animals could be supported on the property and would pay their way?
When she was 14, Julie’s father gave her a choice. She could of keep her riding horse or get into the racing industry. She chose the latter and has not looked back since. She became a licensed harness racing trainer and driver at 16.
The industry included long hours of work and travel and it has taken a toll on them both, but Julie said dealing with horses is something that becomes part of a person’s makeup and character.
Julie was pleased with her current line-up of horses, they show the promise of good things to come.
“We purchase two and three year olds from Sydney and Melbourne,” she said.
The dream of finding that “elite horse” to be the highlight of their racing careers is something that keeps them going.
“Good horses are sent to Cameron Davies down south for training while second stringers are brought up here to be worked on for a while, see how they go.”
Julie enjoys the camaraderie in the harness racing industry.
“It’s a great community and I have been overwhelmed by the amount of help I receive at each event I attend,” she said.
But there’s still no time to sit back and relax because although shows are finalising there is still the start of racing scheduled for November 27 in Tamworth, and then at Inverell for the Sunday meetings.