Mark right at home with his horses

Highly respected Maryborough harness racing horseman Mark Hayes has been around horses all his life-and that’s the way he likes it.

“I really couldn’t think of anything else that I’d rather be doing. I just love them and enjoy it. Sure, it’s a job, but it’s a fun job,” Hayes, 64, said.

“When my mates start groaning about their work and saying how much they dislike it, I realize just how lucky I am. When the alarm goes off at 6am, I’m looking forward to each day.”

Hayes followed his late father trainer-driver Reg into the sport.

“Mum (Lorraine) and Dad always had a horse around the place even when we lived in Melbourne. They moved to Maryborough because it was so central to harness racing-my mum is 87 now and still lives at home,” he said.

“As soon as I completed my Leaving Certificate (Year 11) as it was known back then, I was full-time into the horses. Before that I used to work them before and after school and I think I was driving at the trials when I was only 14.

“After 50 years in the sport, I still enjoy race driving. It’s just that us old buggers don’t get much of a look in these days with the five-point concession claims the juniors get. But some of the young ones are exceptional and they are the future of the sport.”

Hayes is renowned for his happy-go-lucky attitude to life and has always been willing to lend a hand to help anyone out.

He served on the Maryborough Harness Racing Club committee for over 30 years, with a 12-year stint as vice-president.

As a regular face at the club Sunday morning trials, the popular trainer-driver is only too happy to drive horses for other stables if he’s available and also encourage and mentor the juniors.

“We’ve had a few young ones turn up because they have to compete at the trials to get their licenses.

Brent Murphy and Celeste Towers are now up and going and Brent’s brother Declan also wants to be a driver. I’ll always give them drives to help out,” Hayes said.

“I really look forward to the trials. I’m never too busy – I look at it as my one day off!”

At the recent Harness Racing Victoria’s Gordon Rothacker Medal presentation awards night, held on-line due to Covid 19 restrictions, Hayes was recognized with an industry distinguished services award.

“That come out of the blue-although my wife Susan, our kids and grandchildren and one of our owners were in on it. I was eating on a mandarin when I was watching it all on Trots Vision. When my name was read out I nearly choked!” Hayes said.

“There’s only myself and Susan at home doing all the work and we have 18 going around at the moment. Without her I wouldn’t get an award like this. I tell everyone that Susan is the brains behind the show,” he said.

Hayes has enjoyed a 23-year association with Australia’s biggest owners Emilio and Mary Rosati, of Sydney, who race horses under the Stride prefix.

“I was breaking-in horses for Noel Alexander, and he also had a few owned by Emilio in work. It just went from there and while it’s certainly kept us busy, it’s been exciting,” Hayes said.

“We’re doing nine yearlings and the other nine are two and three-year-olds. It’s a bit like a revolving door at times because recently I took eight up to Benstud, near Shepparton, and returned home with another eight.

“Christmas time is when it all goes up a gear with sometimes around 20 to break-in. Most days are long for us, with a 6am start and then knock-off time around 5.30pm.”

Hayes said trotter Elite Stride, a now four-year-old owned by Emilio and Mary, was one of the best he had broken in.

“After I got him bowling along a bit, as a two-year-old he would be worked with pacers. He would just click up and go straight past them,” he said.

“I would have loved to have kept him. I told Emilio I didn’t have enough money to buy the horse, but I could donate a kidney or anything,” Hayes joked.

“I’ve got his full sister here at the minute and she’s pretty good. Scary good, to be honest.”

Elite Stride (Muscle Hill-Real Babe (Donato Hanover) showed his outstanding qualities last season with nine wins and four placings from 14 starts for $118,840.

His runaway victory in the $60,000 Need For Speed Prince Final (G1) at Melton in a time of 1.55-8 was awesome. And it didn’t stop there. He took out the $30,000 NSW Trotters Derby and $15,000 Trotters Foundation Final at Menangle, followed by a win in the VHRC Holmfield (G2) of $30,000 and runner up to Pink Galahs in the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Derby Final at Melton.

Hayes has fond memories as a driver when he handled the talented Metro Mike for his brother and sister-in-law David and Desleigh Parish back in the early 2010s.

“He was a lovely horse and I ended up winning 14 races on him. I drove him to five wins for Tony Dillon before he gave training away and went back to being a farrier. Emma Stewart then got the horse and I kept driving him for a while,” he said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink