Robbie on his way to second 500

Having reached his 500 win milestone last month, Canterbury harness racing driver Robbie Close is now starting to head for the next 500.

At Wyndham last week he drove two winners – Insarchatwist (A Rocknroll Dance) for Ricky Gutsell and Herb (Downbytheseaside) for Regan Todd.

Robbie was born in South Auckland and got his start in the sport through his aunt and uncle Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.

“My first drive was on their jog track. We had a wee pony there and I used to bowl round with it. I was probably ten or twelve,” he said.

Close got the harness racing bug early.

“All I wanted to be was either a harness racing driver or a truck driver.”

During the school holidays he’d spend time at northern trainers Geoff Small and Gareth Dixon.

After leaving school he worked for Barry Purdon for six months.

“When I was sixteen I moved south and started at Robbie Holmes. I got my trials licence there and he gave me my very first drive, which I was able to win. He gave me a great start.”

The win was at Addington in August of 2010 with the royally bred First Art (Artiscape – Kate’s First). Incidentally Holmes had also provided Robbie’s father Michael (who was in the industry for a short time) with his first winning drive on Sharvid Gold (El Sharvid) at Hawera in April 1988.

After working for Holmes, Robbie spent short stints with Greg and Nina Hope and Benny Hill. For the past ten years he’s been working for Regan Todd.

“He’s been a massive part of my career and helped get to where I am today.”

Todd has provided Robbie with his greatest number of winners (121) and there’s been good support from Andrew Stuart (32), John Howe (31), Matt Purvis (27) and Robbie Holmes (19).

“I drive a lot for Andrew Stuart. He’s been great to me on the way through and hopefully I’ll pick up a nice race or two for him.”

Close’s biggest win to date was in the G1 New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes driving Bettor Talk Art (Bettor’s Delight).

“She always stands out. Winning the Group One was an unreal feeling. I led from six the start before (Premier Mares Championship) and did a power of work.  I was nervous going into this race. All week my theory was to go back, but I ended up leading from five before getting a trail three back on the fence. It worked out perfectly. It’s probably the best race winning feeling you ever get. I enjoy every win but with that horse it was something special.”

He’s also won the G3 Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic with Treacherous Gall and G3 races with Splash Cola, Ariella and Play Philly.

Close who’s in his thirteenth year of driving won the Junior Drivers Championship in 2015, dead heating with Stevie Golding on 42 wins.

He got married 12 months ago and wife Brooke is an alternative education teacher.

“She enjoys that, loves going to the races every now and then and catching up with all her friends.”

On the training front he’s trained four winners, his first being Majestic Mannequin (Majestic Son) at Rangiora in April 2019 which he owned with his parents.

As Robbie heads into his second 500 he has his sights on some lofty goals.

“Coming from a trotting background I’d love to win a big Group One trotting race like the Rowe Cup.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink