Here’s cheers to comeback Don!

It hasn’t taken Cobram publican Don Rudd much time at all to bounce back into the harness racing winners’ circle after a six-year break.

“I didn’t cut myself off completely from the industry, but I just had to wind things back a bit. We run the Cobram Hotel and have a furniture store—and to be honest, it just all got too much,” Rudd said.

“The hours I was putting in were just becoming too long and it can become pretty stressful. So while I gave away the training side, I was still breeding a few and looking after some young ones,” he said.

Rudd produced the beautifully bred seven-year-old gelding Some Change (Somebeachsomewhere-Dancingonmoonlight (Holmes Hanover) to win at Melton last week.

“I own most of the horse along with some of the guys who are tied up with Brallos Pass. Mark Watson at Kyabram, who does a really good job with them, was training Some Change up until late last year,” Rudd said.

“The horse had a bit of a break and when it was time for him to come back into work, I decided I’d give training another go,” he said.

“I really believe he has blossomed through spending a lot of time out in the paddock. I remember Don Ducat, who’s a legend of the sport up here, asked me years ago how I would feel locked up for six days and only allowed out one day for the footy.

“I’ve never forgotten that and try hard to keep our horses happy. I’ve got a number of paddocks where I can toss them out.

“I’m really enjoying it, and I must give Abbey Turnbull a pat on the back for a great drive in winning on Some Change. I’ve also got to mention my off-sider in Linton Power who helps out. Linton has been associated with horses for a long time and it’s a blessing that I have him around.”

Rudd said his previous winner prior to taking a break was with Levi Lowe, back in 2011/12.

After becoming licensed in 1986/87, Rudd averaged around 20 starters in each of his first four seasons, picking up half a dozen winners on most occasions.

He prepared 13 winners and 21 placings from 74 starters in 1992/93 which was a standout season.

However he has fond memories of 2003/04 season when he raced smart square-gaiter Take The Next Step.  The son of Wagon Apollo won feature races at Cobram including the Kennedy Trotters Handicap and took out a qualifying heat of the Central Victorian Trotters Championship at Boort.

In only 23 race starts, Take The Next Step was a winner on six occasions, with six placings for nearly $30,000.

The Rudd family operates the historic Cobram Hotel, without doubt one of the most popular pubs in the picturesque Murray River region of northeast Victoria. At its peak, prior to COVID, the hotel had around 40 staff, turning out 3000 meals a week.

“The pandemic has hit us hard. We’ve been doing takeaway meals and some nights that’s around a couple of hundred,” Rudd said.

“We’ll keep fiddling around trying to do whatever we can. Our son wants to take it over so hopefully things will turn for the better soon.

“We’ve owned the furniture shop for 25 years and the past 12 months we’ve been so lucky as it’s just been crazy – it would be the best 12 months we’ve ever had.”

Apart from Some Chance, Rudd is also training a three-year-old in Bundle Of Notes (Roll With Joe-Hope Riley).

“I liked the look of him as a yearling and he’s a nice horse. He’s run second on three occasions and his latest at Bendigo last week was great after having a tough run.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink