Quinlan connects with special cause close to her heart

Top reinswoman Jodi Quinlan is not only a Team Teal ambassador but a role model for the current and next generation of women and girls climbing the harness racing ranks.

Championing the Team Teal initiative has come easy to Quinlan given her family’s brush with cancer.

“My Mum had ovarian cancer and Duncan McPherson had a few horses with me over the years. When I heard about Duncan’s wife (Lyn), I grabbed at the opportunity with open arms,” Quinlan said.

“It’s a cause that’s very close to my heart having gone through it with my Mum. They didn’t give Mum a lot of chance when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and it looked pretty grim. They said ‘she would live for two years’ and that was probably 10-11 years ago.

“So she is one of the very, very lucky ones. I have been on board with the campaign from the very start.”

The 49-year-old horsewoman has loved seeing the wider harness racing community support Team Teal.

“I started wearing a set of colours and from that, Kerryn (Manning) and Kate (Gath) started to get on board. I even had a teal cart early doors and I drove in that for the six weeks,” she said.

“To see how it’s started and how its globalised, it’s very satisfying to see what the girls have been able to do for females. I’m sure we are in a much better place going forward with all the work that Duncan (McPherson) has done.”

With all her success in harness racing, Quinlan is always happy to mentor the next generation.

“I guess it’s very humbling to know (people look up to me),” she said. “Kerryn (Manning), I and Kate (Gath) are just ordinary people,” she said.

“To know that people look up to you, it is an honour. And to see the kids with the teal colours going around in the ponies, it is very good.

“I am always happy to help the juniors and the kids throughout my time. I’m always happy to put back into the game what I have got out of it.”

Jodi Quinlan is just one of the amazing women in harness racing, who we will celebrate on International Women’s Day this Friday.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria