Debra Wicks-Moss, who was a pioneer for women in the early days of harness racing in NSW, showed fine touch last Friday night (Nov 4) to post a well-deserved and popular win in Bendigoās Veteran Drivers Trot.
A mid-race three-wide move on bay gelding Star Down Under (Down Under Muscles) was the key to success for Wicks-Moss in beating her rivalsānine male legends of the sport, who between them have won thousands of races.
Star Down Under, prepared at Echuca by Peter Lindberg, was a 10/1 chance in the feature event, sponsored by Oxley Feed Mill.
āIām sure the win would have given Peter a lift. He was unable to be at the meeting due to illness, but he rang me later,ā Wicks-Moss said afterwards.
āIt was a great night and a big thanks must go to the Bendigo Club, Oxley Feed Mills and the trainers and connections who nominated their horses and made the race possible.ā
Wicks-Moss landed one-out and three-back. When Brian Gath, a two-times past winner of the event, made a three-wide run from the back on race favorite Lady Madge Lewis, Wicks-Moss was quick to improve and ran to the death-seat.
Gath worked around to take the position to race outside the leader and went to the lead turning for home. Wicks-Moss packed too many punches winning by nearly four metres in a mile rate of 2.01-3.
Debra Moss (nƩe Wicks) followed her father Bruce (who died from illness 10 years ago) into harness racing.
He became interested in the sport in 1970 after meeting trainer Vince Munday through the Granville Pony Club which he started with wife Ruth. Debra was the Club instructor.
When Bruce purchased his first pacer Adio Pronto in 1971, Vince was on hand to help. Debra took over the training and at his first start for her at Hawkesbury in April 1972, Adio Pronto was victorious.Ā She drove at many Sunday gymkhana meetings on a regular basis.
While Bruce had some smart horses like Classic Tender, Coral Prince, Gold Adios and Jeremy Gem, his proudest moments were Debra becoming the first female driver in an official race to win against the boys at her first race drive aboard Darwin Boy at Hawkesbury in late 1977 and granddaughter Donna driving her first winner on Imatrotnovsky in 2011.
Wicks-Moss is a popular competitor at many Victorian country tracks and has driven well over 100 winners.
by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink