Juggling act is bringing rewards

Portland’s Heath Bourke is the first to admit that juggling his harness racing passion with his full-time employment sometimes becomes a bit tricky.

“I have to try and target night meetings as my work shift at the moment is 7am to 3.30pm—so that cancels me out of racing at day fixtures,” Bourke said.

“And then this week I had to get my sister Donna to take a horse to race at Geelong. It was at night, but the trip takes over three hours so that would have been cutting it a bit fine.

“It’s funny that I don’t get all that wound up watching the horses at the races – but it’s a bit different when I’m cheering them from home in front of the television!”

Bourke works as an occupational health nurse at the Portland Aluminium smelter, a profession that has enabled him to do a great deal of travelling, including working overseas.

After getting his race driving license in 1991 as a 16-year-old, Bourke has since enjoyed other roles over the years including owner, trainer, breeder and farrier.

“I’m lucky to have my own place straight across from the Portland training track. It was previously owned by Peter Tonkin (whose son Clayton is the partner of leading Victorian trainer Emma Stewart) and I’ve had it since 2012,” Bourke said.

“Donna gives me a hand, as well as doing a few of her own, while our mum has all the mares and foals at her property. I’ve got four of racing age in work and there’s two yearlings as well.”

Spearheading the Bourke stable is beautifully bred filly Our Ultimate Layla (Bettors Delight). The three-year-old won on debut at Hamilton (Aug 11) at 50/1 when driven by Bourke and finished third at Geelong (Aug 24) with Jackie Barker taking the reins.

“The horse was advertised for sale late last year. It was listed for quite a while, and I ended up paying $5000. Her dam is a group one winning mare in Hexham Heartbeat (Artesian),” he said.

“I’m right into breeding and I thought if she didn’t happen to make the grade at the races, she would at least work out as a cheap broodmare.”

Hexham Heartbeat was trained by Emma Stewart and had 11 wins, 13 placings from 30 starts for $120,000. She took out the group one VicBred Super Series final for 3yo fillies at Melton (May 25, 2012) with John Caldow aboard.

Bourke said after buying Our Ultimate Layla and getting her going he found she was a knee knocker and had some hind issues.

“I shoe them myself and changed a few things, but the horse had no confidence. She thought she was going to hurt herself—we had to get into her head mentally,” he said.

“I trialled her once before her race debut and she showed enough to suggest she would go okay, and then her work improved between the trial and her first start.”

Bourke said his late grandfather Tim Bourke was a renowned farrier, while he also learnt a great deal from his late father Barry.

“Another farrier in Gary Jennings helped me out as well,” he said.

“I enjoy the driving side, because you do get to know their little traits, which can help get them around safe sometimes. But when there’s a need for a pro, I’ll use one for sure.”

Bourke has 11 or 12 broodmares with seven foals on the ground.

“The plan is to sell five of these at the sales. I’m in my fourth season of breeding. I had some luck a few years ago when I was offered the chance to lease Without Guile (Art Major) after I lost another mare. I knew Without Guile’s owner Carl Reinehr and later on I made him an offer which he accepted.

“Carl bred Bondi Lockdown (Somebeachsomewhere) out of her, and a few others and I’ve bred Will He Reign (Sweet Lou) and his full brother. Without Guile is due to have a foal later this year by Captaintreacherous.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink