Life’s a beach at the moment for Reece

When Mildura-based harness racing trainer Reece Moore decided he needed a working holiday with a small team of horses, it was a no-brainer to head to South Australia and its spectacular beaches.

“Growing up over in Perth I’d wag school and head off with a few mates with our boogie boards. Often, we’d catch a train to Cottesloe Beach where there were perfect waves,” Moore said.

“We didn’t ever graduate to surfboards because they were too hard to carry around on public transport!

“There was also a TAB agency nearby that I’d pop into. I was probably about 16 and I guess that’s where my interest started with the trots.

“Later on, when I lived on the Queensland Gold Coast, there was nothing better than a day in the surf at Burleigh. We’d have a good session and then head to a burger bar. So I suppose I’ve been a beach man all my life.”

And now Moore is back at the beach most mornings, albeit giving his five horses a gallop in the heavy sand at Semaphore Beach or walking them through the surf.

“I trained horses on the beach over in the west and there’s nothing like saltwater therapy. They enjoy it and just want to work for you. There’s no slapping them up to get them going,” he said.

“Semaphore Park isn’t far away from where I’m stabled, and the beach is open to horses from 4am to 8am. I float them over and I’m there with the first lot at 5.15am. There’s a bit of seaweed about when the tide is out, but you’ve got to take the good with the bad.”

Moore has temporary stables at Penfield where a legend of the sport Lance Justice was based years ago.

“I’m ideally placed with Globe Derby and Gawler both within 15 minutes and straight out on the highway to Port Pirie and Mildura,” he said.

“I got over here last weekend, and I couldn’t be happier. They seem to be thriving, particularly the older ones like White Star Village and Neds Beach. The property I’m on also has a 1000m track which is great because you can let them run.”

Moore said he’d been thinking about campaigning a team in SA for a while.

“I suppose if it works out, I’ll have to decide what’s best. I’m keen to start driving again. I really only gave it away because I’d be flat out with gearing up big teams at Mildura and it was pretty much impossible,” he said.

Moore, who has prepared 152 winners, has made Mildura his home for the past 10 years.

“Prior to arriving there and getting a job with Shayne Cramp, I’d spent time with Dean Braun, Lance Justice, John Caldow and Craig Demmler. I got to drive a few trotters and ran 4th and 5th at a Maryborough Redwood Carnival one year, but there was never that opportunity in Mildura, so I’d enjoy having a go at that again over here,” he said.

“My focus now is to enjoy life here and obviously get winners.”

Hoofnote: Moore has three runners competing at Gawler this afternoon (Sept 20).

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by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink