Mr Reliable racks up the points for award

Anyone involved with trotting will tell you consistency is the name of the game, and for square-gaiter Mumstheword (Louey Louey Louey) it was the key to Maryborough Harness Racing Club’s Horse of the Year award, despite not having won a race at the track in 2022.

The gelding’s trainer, driver and owner Tina Ridis was thrilled to win the award for the first time with a horse she admits is “no superstar”.

“He’s just a paddler, but he is all-trot.  He very, very rarely gallops unless something goes really wrong in the race, and that’s his best asset.  That and his awesome gate speed,” Ridis said.

“He is without a doubt the fastest horse, trotter or pacer, that I have driven out of the gate.  Just really quick, so that’s pretty good too and usually means you end up in a handy spot.”

Overall, for season 2022, Mumstheword had 22 starts for one win and 16 placings, including seven seconds and three thirds at his home track, Maryborough.

“He isn’t a great traveller, so I tend to stay pretty close to home with him.  The awards are done on points, so it came down to consistency.  It’s just great that the club’s members sponsor the seasonal awards to give local horses and trainers the opportunity for some recognition,” she said.

The Maryborough Club’s meeting today (Feb 20) has races named in honor of all of its seasonal award winners, including Mumstheword for Horse of the Year; 83 year old Ray Cross for trainer of the year; and driver of the year, James Herbertson, who was Victoria’s premier driver in 2022.

Ridis, who is based just outside Maryborough, has had a lifelong involvement in the sport and confines her stable to square gaiters.

“My dad, John Ridis, was a spud farmer near Daylesford and he got into harness racing through (the late) Bob Conroy way before I was born.  Dad used to train and drive so I was always around the sport and just stuck with it,” she said.

“Town Player (Classic Adam) was my first trotter, and she turned out to be a good one (Town Player won six of its first 11 starts for Ridis in July to November of 2011) and of course you get hooked. Training trotters is just the way it’s worked out.”

Ridis said her family had moved to Ballarat after her dad became ill, but she made the shift to Maryborough eight years ago.

“I just got sick of the cold weather, so I bought 20 acres at Havelock that was a blank canvas.  I live on the property and have everything I need here now, a track, barn, yards and paddocks,” she said.

“I only have four to six in work at one time, because I do everything on my own.  I keep the numbers down because I’m pretty fussy. Everyone gets treated as an individual and gets a lot of attention.

“I just love every one of the horses I have. Even the outside ones, if they stay too long I fall in love with them!

“I think every trainer questions themselves every day about what they’re doing, but I just love it.  You wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”

Herbertson said he was pleased to receive the driver’s award at a track he enjoys driving on.

“The State awards (premier driver and concession driver) were the big ones, but I do like the Maryborough track.  I love anywhere I’m getting winners – I’m pretty easy to keep happy!” he laughed.

The freelancer, who at just 22 has amassed $7.2 million in stakes, has six drives at Maryborough today, including in the race named in his honor on Smiling Shandy for Axedale trainer Mick Carbone.