A ‘little guy’ with a big love for the game

There are few harness racing trainer-drivers going around who get more pleasure and genuine excitement from a win than Victoria’s Scott Torney.

A self-described “little bloke” of the sport, Torney and his trotting mare Tension Seeker’s recent Ballarat victory broke a substantial drought – the last win for both the horse and her trainer-driver was in December 2017.

But for kind-hearted Torney, who took the decision years ago not to carry a whip in his races, it’s all about the horse and the journey, not the stakemoney.

“I’m pretty well known for getting excited in a race. I suppose that’s what happens when you don’t win very often!” he joked.

“The difference between winning and losing is just day and night.  My wife Michelle couldn’t be there because of the COVID situation, but it’s amazing the amount of people who get around you when you have a bit of luck.

“Heaps of people on track came up and said well done. I think most people in the industry like to see someone have a bit of luck.

“I normally don’t have that much contact from people after a race – maybe a few friends and family will check in on how we went. But that night I had 18 text messages and nine missed calls, all from people wanting to congratulate me on the win.

“And I reckon that’s great, not just because it’s my story, but because a little guy winning a race creates some interest.”

The victory was Tension Seeker’s (Tennotrump – Classic Lilly (Classic Garry) fourth for Torney, who bought her as a three-year-old, along with her older half-brother Nail It from the Echuca sales.

“I work full time at a tyre service, and the horses are a hobby, so I can’t afford to pay too much for them, but I’d seen her work and I just thought she was too nice of a horse not to get a chance,” he said.

“She’s pretty highly strung, and when I got her, she was pretty crazy.  She’s still not the friendliest horse in the world, but she has learnt to relax and go with the flow.

“It’s all about relaxation and chilling out at my place.  When I get a horse, I haven’t got owner pressure so if it takes me 12 months to get to the races, it takes me 12 months; it doesn’t matter.”

Torney trains a team of around four at any one time, working the horses and his racing commitments around his job.

“My employer’s dad had horses years ago, as a lot of people in St Arnaud did, and he’s very understanding, but you still feel bad if you need to take time off to get to the races,” Torney said.

“St Arnaud used to have race meetings and trials, and there were up to 60 horses trained here, it was a family sport and a lot of people had a connection.  But since we had our meetings taken away, we’ve really lost out, and there’s now only a couple of us left training.

“I think it’d be great if there was a return to programming some restricted race meetings on weekends to cater more for those of us who aren’t doing horses on a professional or semi-professional basis.”

Torney, who followed his father Barry into harness racing, said, for him, patience was the key.

“If the horses aren’t going so great people often will say to me that I must be disappointed. But with the horses I train, you can’t let yourself be disappointed.  They’ve all got problems, and they’ve all got to learn what they are supposed to do,” he said.

“But once you do sort out the problems, or they do learn what they’re supposed to be doing and want to do it for you, winning a race is the greatest feeling.

“I’m never going to get rich out of harness racing, I just love the animal – and I love winning!

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink