Callaghan making a name for himself

For most 16-year-olds a typical Friday night would be spent out socialising with friends or participating in a team sport.

But that is certainly not the case for Morisset-based junior reinsman Tom Callaghan who is making a name for himself in harness racing.

It will be Callaghan’s busiest race meeting to date when he competes in nine races at Newcastle tonight, a hefty workload by any drivers standard.

The up-and-coming horseman is learning his craft under the guidance of his father Mark and is dedicated to the sport, showing maturity beyond his years, already claiming 20 victories in his first season of driving.

Like, Jett Turnbull from Bathurst, it is refreshing for the sport that teenagers are making a career in harness racing and Callaghan is one that is destined for a bright future.

Callaghan’s busy night kicks off with Repartee, a long shot which is raced by his mother Simone but for the remainder of the night, most of his drives are considered solid each-way hopes.

Callaghan rates veteran pacers Glenn Ford (race four) and Royal Gamble (race six) as his best winning chances.

Glenn Ford has drawn barrier three and despite not having won since March, appears to have every chance from the ideal draw.

Royal Gamble, a multiple metropolitan winner, has benefitted from Callaghan’s five-point concession claim, enabling him to draw reasonably in barrier five.

His recent runs at Newcastle have been quite sound so if he gains a suitable run, he will be hard to hold out.

“I am really looking forward to tonight’s racing”, said Callaghan.

“It will be a busy night, but I have some good drives.

“Both of the old boys, Royal Gamble and Glenn Ford should be there abouts as they always give their best.

“Although neither has been in the winners’ circle for a while their runs over the past few weeks have been good enough to suggest that they are not far away from winning again.”

Away from Newcastle, Wagga and Parkes each have solid eight-race programs scheduled.

From those two venues, the best bet comes up in race seven at Parkes, namely Jessejames Shannon which has drawn perfectly in gate one.

Trained locally by Brett Hutchings, the current grading system has aided the gelding and based on his recent efforts, he should go close to winning.

For complete Newcastle race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW