Big sister hands her siblings a lesson

She has a Group One victory to her name, but there’s no way popular Victorian harness racing driver Bec Bartley was relying on reputation when she competed against her sisters on Saturday night (Feb 10).

The Shepparton-based horsewoman took part in a memorial event for her late Pa John Bartley, at Broken Hill in outback NSW – and among her rivals were younger siblings Lisa (Pitt), based at Stanhope with husband Mark, and Ellen (Jones) who prepares a team with her husband Blake at Narrandera.

“It was the first time any of us had driven up there. I can say that we were all a bit anxious because it’s a really small track (602 metres), but we all had fun and it was very clean racing,” she said.

“Ellen drove in the opening race and both Lisa and myself were pretty keen spectators. All the horses get around the track okay and the two races I drove in, I felt like we were absolutely flying despite a mile rate of 2.11 in one of them!”

The late John Bartley, who passed away two years ago, was an enthusiastic hobby trainer for many years in Broken Hill, in western NSW, 1100 kilometres west of Sydney.  Broken Hill is reputed as Australia’s oldest mining town, with its lead, zinc and silver ore deposits among the great ore deposits of the world because of its size, richness, and continuity.

John’s son David hatched the idea of a memorial race and the plan grew to encompass David’s three harness racing daughters taking part. No doubt John would have been proud to look down on his grand daughters who have each carved out successful careers in their own rights.

Bec driving Elljays Ingot (Allamerican Ingot), got in behind the leader Emmaline Bromac in the feature race of the night. She come out going down the back straight for the final time and won by seven metres from Priority Betting, driven by Lisa who was three back on the fence most of the way.

ELLJAYS INGOT REPLAY

Ellen, driving Shandiin Beach, sat in the breeze and finished last in the five-horse clash.

“We had heaps of relatives, some who travelled a long way, turn up to cheer us on. Friday turned out to be a pretty big night, but after the memorial race on Saturday night it was a lot quieter,” Bec said.

“Our older sister who is a midwife in Adelaide come to watch with her two daughters. Then there were two aunties from Wagga and Kyabram, along with Grandma who still lives in Broken Hill. Mum, dad and our brother Aiden were also there as well as a few other friends.

“Tony (Camilleri) and his daughter Ashleigh were great in putting us on five of their horses, while Andrew (Vozlic) from Mildura also provided one. The Club was also really good to us and all the spectators who parked their cars down the back straight added to the night.

“We had concerns about keeping count of the laps, but there was never going to be a worry as the race caller helped out, saying there was three laps to go, two laps to go, and so on.

“Anyone who got it wrong could only blame themselves!”

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink