Now a Queenslander – but a Blues fan for life

Former Bathurst harness racing trainer-driver Doug Hewitt might now call himself a Queenslander – but when it comes to footy alliances, some things never change!

The passionate NSW Blues Rugby League fan is loving the Queensland life but had to be careful not to find himself in hostile territory while basking in the glory of the recent State of Origin series victory over the Queensland Maroons.

“There’s absolutely no way I’d swap there! I’m Blues through and through and I’ll stay that way forever!” Hewitt said.

The 31-year-old, his wife Casey and their 12-month-old daughter, Tilly, moved to a property west of Brisbane at the beginning of the year.

“I think we were both getting over the cold weather at Bathurst. During winter, the frosts are really bad and then when the fog rolls in, it can take hours to clear. Casey’s parents live at Casino so we’re a lot closer to them now,” he said.

Hewitt’s parents, Bernie and Cath, have been regular northern campaigners over the years, and got among the winners again in their annual Queensland pilgrimage this year.  As they headed home this week, Doug has also hit a purple patch, with two Albion Park victories bringing his season total of winners to 25.

“When we moved, I didn’t set the bar too high. We decided if we could be competitive, then we’d be happy, and we’ve been pretty consistent. We’re going along okay and had four or five winners in a week not too long ago,” he said.

But Hewitt said the goalposts had shifted a little during the course of their first six months.

“When we came up, we had just a handful of racehorses and I wanted to do some breaking-in which is good money,” Hewitt said.

“I would have done nearly a dozen yearlings and then some of the owners decided to leave them with us.   I also picked up a few outside horses to train. So, they came thick and fast, and we got busy very quick, but I’m very grateful for all the support.”

Hewitt is now preparing a racing team of 20 from a base at Plainland, 75 km west of Brisbane.

“I enjoy putting the time into them. Bryse McElhinney comes out three or four days which is great, and Nathan Dawson lives not all that far away and he’s a big help,” Hewitt said.

“We were very lucky to walk into a property which was previously used as a harness racing complex. It’s on 180 acres with a 1000 metre track, but it’s partly built on a hill which took a bit of adjusting to.”

Hewitt said the couple’s plan was to “have a big go at it for the next few years” and get in a position to buy their own property.

“Casey is a lawyer and she’s driven in races as well as worked in a number of stables over the years,” Hewitt said.

“She was driving some stock standard horse’s week-in, week-out in Sydney while doing stable work and she’s also worked up here for a very good trainer in Wayne Graham.

“Casey enjoyed race driving and I wouldn’t be surprised if she got back into it down the track.”

Hewitt is not the first of his family to relocate north.  His trainer-driver sister Gemma decided to stay after campaigning in Queensland during the 2021 Constellations Carnival and is now based at Yarabilba, near Mount Tamborine.

Doug has previously spent time to Queensland, moving up there to play footy about 11 years ago. He trained with the first grade North Queensland Cowboys, while playing in Mackay.

“I played Qld Cup (the highest level of regional rugby league comp) so I was sort of knocking on the door before I did my knee. That level is just below NRL. Then I had four years with Tweed Heads and later on I played back home in Bathurst,” he said.

“I loved it and played mostly half back. But I did some time on the sidelines, having three operations on my right knee and two on my left!”

Hewitt has driven over 300 winners in a sparkling harness racing career, including two Group One victories.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink