Chin’s best day in harness racing

After the best day of his training career Luk Chin is considering a career change.

“I might have to give up medicine and become a full time horse trainer,” joked Chin, or that should be Dr Chin, at Alexandra Park on Friday.

Chin’s inspiration for the career change, from anaesthetist to full-time horse trainer, came when Safrakova won on Friday night, giving him his third win in 24 hours after Voronov and Alana won on his home track of Cambridge on Thursday.

Of course it is a career change that will never happen cause Chin loves his day job and admits aged 79 he doesn’t seem himself taking up full time training even though any younger trainer anywhere would be thrilled to achieve what he did in such a short space of time this week.

“It is my best weekend, or actually day, in racing because I have had two in a day before but never three in 24 hours,” says Chin.

The stat is made even more remarkable because Chin only has four racehorses in work, with the other Jasinova scratched from another trot on Friday night with a minor issue.

“They are my only four racehorses and I have a two-year-old by Love You who has just come into work that I like,” says Chin.

“So to get three wins when they are really the only horses I could have racing was very satisfying.”

Chin engaged young horseman Nathan Delany to partner Safrakova to her all the way win, using his claim to make the victory penalty free.

“He is a nice young guy, very polite so I am happy to put him on to get a chance at a penalty exempt winner.”

But that doesn’t mean Chin, who has driven well over 100 winners, intends retiring from the sulky any time soon.

“I love it, it keeps me interested,” he says.

“I have to get a full medical every year now to keep my licence to drive in races. That means blood tests, eye examination and I think that is fair enough.

“My eyesight is actually fine for driving because I wear contact lenses, it just makes it not as enjoyable to drive on wet nights.”

Chin’s preference for trotters over pacers is well documented, a decision he made decades ago.

“I realised way back then as a small-time breeder-owner-trainer-driver it was the only way I was going to be competitive and even though they take more time I have never regretted it.”
But even though the new $900,000 The Race at Cambridge next Thursday will never be on Chin’s radar he says he can’t wait to see his home track celebrate its richest ever event.

“It will be a great night and I think I will have two in the fillies and mares trot so I am looking forward to it,” says Chin.

by Michael Guerin