Champion jockey in awe of Alford’s 8000 win milestone

Champion jockey Damien Oliver was among the first to congratulate Chris Alford on becoming the first harness racing driver in the southern hemisphere to reach 8,000 career wins this week.

The GOAT of the saddle was lavish in his admiration for the GOAT of harness racing’s sulky.

“It’s a remarkable effort- 8,000 wins. It’s something I couldn’t comprehend,” said Oliver, who finished his stellar career late last year with 3189 wins, including 129 at the Group 1 level.

Alford, 55, boasts 138 Group 1 wins, headed by Inter Dominion pacing victories in 1995 with Golden Reign and 2015 with Lennytheshark. He cites them as the equal best pacer he’s driven in a career spanning more than 40 years.

Oliver and Alford chatted at Moonee Valley, where Oliver has won two Cox Plates (Dane Ripper in 1997 and Northerly in 2001), and Alford has won three Hunter Cups (Paris Affair 1999, Mont Denver Gold 2003 and Sting Lika Bee 2007).

“I can understand how much hard work has gone into getting here,” Oliver said to Alford.

“Enjoy it and savour the moment. Enjoy the accolades because moments like this don’t happen every day. It’s a job well done.”

Oliver, 51, is similar vintage to Alford and recalls the pair crossing paths many times at Moonee Valley back in the days when track hosted double-headers – thoroughbreds during the day and harness racing at night.

“It was a good atmosphere. We’d often chat with the harness racing drivers as they arrived and we were packing up,” Oliver said.

“It’s a shame the trots aren’t here (Moonee Valley) anymore. I do have fond memories of hanging around after the races in my younger days. I recall meeting Vinnie Knight, who tipped us a few for that night. They all won, and we had a great night. They’re memories you never forget.”

Alford, who toyed with the idea of being a jockey in his early days, is a good friend of another top jockey, Craig Williams and keeps a keen eye on thoroughbred racing.

Like so many, Alford said he was glued to a TV screen when Oliver won his last race on Munhamek at Ascot on December 16.

“It wasn’t just me, it was most people at Albion Park,” Alford said.

“A heap of us were in the barn (horse stalls) and knew Damien had won the previous two races. The noise and cheering from participants was almost as much as when Leap To Fame won the Inter Dominion final on-track that night.”

Despite the long countdown to Alford’s historic milestone, he said he didn’t feel any extra pressure.

“Not really. I just kept chipping away,” he said.

“I knew I’d get there; it was just a matter of when.”

“It’s a great thrill and something I’m certainly proud of, but it’s nothing like the buzz of winning a really big race.”

While Oliver is enjoying retirement, Alford, who boasts 15 Australian driving titles, said he was as hungry as ever to continue.”

“Whether I get to 9000 wins is another thing, but I’m still enjoying it, and I’m as competitive as ever. I hate losing,” he said.

What’s Oliver’s advice to Alford in this twilight phase of his career?

“Stay true to yourself,” he said. “As you get a bit older, you can start to question yourself and your decisions, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to where you are by making good choices.”

“I also believe you never stop learning. Sometimes, you go out there trying to please other people, but when you’re at the coalface, you’ve got a better understanding than most people on the outside do. Keep backing your own judgement.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia