1,500 win milestone for Gareth Rattray

Gareth Rattray became only the second Tasmanian harness racing driver to have won 1,500 races after the win of Maebee (Bettor’s Delight) in Launceston on Friday night.

Rattray had been stranded on 1,499 for a month with several minor placings before ending his run of outs.

“I sort of knew I was nearing it, it did take a little while to get there, but we got there,” he said.

Maeebee, prepared at Longford by Gareth’s brother Todd, was sent out as a $4.00 chance and was taken straight to the lead before racing away to score by 11.0m.

“He has the ability, and I think he will improve with age.

“He was able to lead and bowl along and put pay to them at the 400 and was too good,” said Gareth about the win.

The win was one of two for him on the card, scoring with Ideal Karalta, trained by his uncle Neville later in the night.

Gareth drove his first winner, Karalta Shine, for his grandfather Wayne in Launceston back in November 2001.

His career from there has seen him go on to be the youngest member of the Tasmanian harness racing Hall of Fame.

He has won 11 state drivers premierships and almost all of the state’s biggest races, including a Tasmania Cup, two Easter Cups, one Devonport Cup, four Hobart Cups and 12 Tasmanian Sires’ Stakes Finals.

But of his 1,500 wins, it’s some of those from interstate and overseas that stand out.

“Winning the Australasian Young Drivers Championship in New Zealand (2003) and in Sydney (2010) were good.

“Representing the country at the world drivers championship was a huge honour,” said Gareth who competed in Europe in 2009, where he won a heat of the series at Biri Travbane in Norway.

Closer to home, the Launceston Pacing Club’s premier race stands out.

“A couple of recent Easter Cups were pretty good; it’s one of the highest stake-earning races here.

Gareth’s Tasmania Cup wins aboard Motu Crusader were when the race was run at Group 3 level.

Meaning he is still chasing that Group 1 victory.

He has had 21 tries for a Group 1 win, with his best result being five minor placings.

The only Group or Listed race in Tasmania he is yet to win is the Bandbox, with his best result being a second place in 2014.

Gareth is not making the trip to Hobart from his Latrobe base as frequently as he has in the past, but he wouldn’t have it any other way at present.

“I’m just happy doing what I’m doing.

“Priorities have changed a little bit for me, I have got a job now, and the kids have changed the way I look at things a bit.

“I don’t travel as much as I used to, so I can spend time with them and enjoy life as the best I can ” he recalled.

The most successful Tasmanian harness racing driver is Ricky Duggan with 1,809 wins, and like Gareth, he isn’t a fan of travelling across the state.

Gareth is 16-years younger than Ricky, giving him a strong chance to break his record in future seasons.