“Okie” turns it all around for Janet

Energetic Victorian harness racing horsewoman Janet Exell had a few good reasons to be beaming after her pint-sized gift horse Areuohkay dashed up the sprint lane and got the cash at Stawell.

In her own words, Exell had been having “a pretty crap time of it” at last Monday afternoon’s meeting.

“I’d run third last, second last and last – so things were terrible! But I was so excited when Okie (otherwise known as Areuohkay) won – it was his first for us in the four starts since we got him,” the southwest Victorian trainer said.

“I own the horse with a dear friend in Rhonda Murrell who lives at Dartmoor. Rhonda has had horses before and some smart ones who won a couple of cups years ago,” she said.

Exell, who is based at Balmoral 60kms north of Hamilton, said “Okie” had been given to her by South Australian owner-trainer Kevin Von Duve and his wife Lyn.

“They’re from Glencoe in South Australia and during COVID couldn’t cross the border to race in Victoria,” she said.

“They were going down to Globe Derby Park in Adelaide for a bit, but Kevin said the trips were becoming too big and tiring because they were leaving at 7am and then getting home at 3 o’clock the next morning.

“I’ve known both of them forever. They are gorgeous people. Anyway, Kevin asked if I could buy the horse and take over the training. When I said that I already had too many, he then said how about I give him to you?!”

Exell said she had always admired Okie when she saw him at the races.

“He’s a pretty little thing-and stands out from the others,” she laughed.

“I love him to bits. He finished third for us at his first start and then got a flat tyre with the tube wrapped around the axle when he ran ninth. His sixth was then good and now he’s got a win.

“We are really happy at the moment because most times we can get David Murphy and Kerryn Manning to drive them and that really helps.”

Exell is third generation harness racing participant and has a team of seven horses in work at present.

“My grandfather Arthur loved the horses and then my father Ken followed in his footsteps. I used to help dad as much as I could and when he died five years ago, I got my trainer’s licence to keep his colors going,” she said.

“We sometimes have to battle along to get the horses done because both David and myself have other jobs-David is manager at Hamilton Harness Racing Club, while I’m business manager at Glenelg River Herbs.

“But there’s nothing like getting a winner to give you a little push along.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink