Industry rallies for one of its own

When the chips are down, the harness racing community is renowned for offering support – and that’s been the case with NSW trainer Josh Powderly after his life-changing accident.

At only 42, and with a young family, Josh was left with horrific spinal injuries after a falling through the roof of a building on January 24 and it’s not known if he will walk again.

Powderly, from Young in Central NSW, runs an Electrical and Solar Installation business with his wife Chloe and the couple also prepare a team of horses.

When news of the accident broke, industry participants were quick to jump on board to offer support to the family, and clubs like Bathurst and Young have run fund raising efforts through monster raffles and stallion auctions.

At last month’s 2022 Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival, the harness racing community dug deep, raising more than $20,000 through initiatives including an auction for a service to former star pacer The Storm Inside (Rocknroll Hanover-Spirited Storm), jointly conducted by The Breeders Voice and Bathurst Harness Racing Club.

And at its April 1 meeting, the Young Harness Club handed over a cheque for $30,000, thanking businesses and local clubs who donated prizes and the community for its widespread support, noting a “mind blowing” number of tickets had been sold.

The club acknowledged a long list of supporters, including Junee Harness Racing Club, Goulburn Paceway, Racing at Club Menangle, Riverina Paceway,  Murrumbidgee Turf Club, Garrards Horse and Hound, Pinnacle Powercoating and sandblasting, Cobbitty Equine Farm, Judds Horse Supplies, Glen Mia ACT Saddlery, Conqueror Milling Company, Mitavite Hygain.

In addition, Harness Racing NSW chipped in $1300 on top of the raffle proceeds to get the total to $30,000.

Despite the upheaval, Chloe Powderly continued to oversee the preparation of their yearling (American Ideal – Village Witch – Village Jasper) for the APG Sales in March at Rhiannon Park, Shepparton.

The filly, out of their former star racemare Village Witch (24 wins and $281,233) sold for $40,000 to John McCarthy and Summit Bloodstock, with APG generously donating the commission on the sale of the American Ideal-bred filly.

In an interview with APG’s John Coffey, Chloe spoke of the rollercoaster ride ahead for her, Josh and their three teenage children and the shock of the accident.

“Josh was just doing the same old thing he does 10,000 times a year,” she said.

“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but (because of the injuries) he may not walk again.”

Chloe said her father had paid $4000 for Village Witch’s dam Witch Party at the 1997 APG sales.

“She won 12 races with 43 placings and when dad retired, he gave us the horse as a gift,” she said.

“We took Witch Party to Village Jasper and the result was Village Witch.”

Village Witch won 24 races for the Powderly family, and treated them to some of the greatest thrills in the sport.

“My favorite win with Village Witch was her second victory at Junee. I think she won by 50 metres. It also meant so much because Josh was training her at the time,” Chloe said.

“We nominated her for the 2018 Inter Dominion and weren’t really expecting to get in. But to our surprise she did, and she was the only mare in the series.”

The Melbourne trip resulted in a third placing behind Cruz Bromac in a qualifying heat and then a close second in the $50,000 Consolation final.

While Josh is still in hospital in Sydney, he and the Powderly family are in the thoughts of all in harness racing.

Harness Racing NSW has set up a benevolent fund to assist the Powderly family. Further details are available from Maurice Logue at HRNSW (02-97226600).

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink