Electronic records has driver behind major milestone

It was a big weekend for harness racing reinsman Shannon Suvaljko, celebrating his 2000th winning drive on Saturday night at Northam.

But after a quick email to Alan Parker – who is soon to be celebrated as a recent inductee into WA’s Racing Industry Hall Of Fame – it was established that Suvaljko hit the elusive 2000 wins some time ago, and Saturday’s win on board the Kat Warwick-trained Allinablaze (Yankee Sensation) was in fact Suvaljko’s 2057th driving win.

“I probably just wanted to win a race, and when I won my first, I wanted to win another,” said Suvaljko.

“And I always wanted to win a Pacing Cup.

“Going to the trots with the old man, the Pacing Cup was unbelievable, big crowds, everyone having a different idea of who’s going to win, the race was on channel 7.”

Not only has Shannon made that dream a reality, the 53-year-old has now gone on to win it twice, firstly onboard his own horse Vanlo Yorker NZ in 2008, and in more recent times, the 2020 Pacing Cup on the Phil Costello trained, million-dollar earner Vultan Tin.

“Winning that twice has been the best part of driving.”

Claiming his first win in March 1984 on board his father’s horse Kings Chain, Suvaljko waited two years for his second victory, which came up in July 1986 and has since gone on to great heights, taking out 10 Group 1 races as a driver and ranked fifth of all time in WA for total career wins.

With a career spanning almost 40 years, Suvaljko has no plans of slowing down, hoping to continue to go around and win races.

“I love winning for anyone, love Collie, Northam, Kellerberrin, it doesn’t matter, a win for the owners, trainer, their faces are the best medicine.”

It was a weekend of celebrating driving milestones in WA, with Dylan Egerton-Green notching up his 800th career win in the cart at Gloucester Park, as well as Maddison Brown claiming her 200th career win.

*Once again, special mention to Alan Parker who has gone above and beyond sharing his information and knowledge of WA Harness statistics.

To view the Northam Saturday results, click here.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA