Sisters set for Silver City showdown

John Bartley could not possibly have imagined his love of horses as a hobby trainer in outback Australia would inspire three of his granddaughters to highly successful harness racing careers.

And tomorrow night (Feb. 10) the three women, Bec Bartley, Lisa Pitt and Ellen Jones, will acknowledge their grandfather’s inspiration when they converge on the remote NSW town to drive in the inaugural John Bartley Memorial race.

It’s the first time any of John’s granddaughters has driven at the tight circuit in the Silver City mining town of Broken Hill.

“We’ve been to the Broken Hill trots before, but it was a long, long time ago – I was really too small to remember a lot about Pa’s training before he retired, but that’s certainly where it all began for us girls,” Lisa said.

“It’s definitely going to be something different and we’re all a bit anxious – but we’ll be happy we’ve done it for Pa,” she said.

John Bartley’s son David followed him into the sport as a hobby trainer, based at Merrigum, in northern Victoria, but David’s daughters have taken their involvement to the next level.

Rebecca Bartley is an accomplished trainer and driver, with 474 driving wins to her name, including a group one and almost $4 million in stakes.  Ellen, who is married to NSW horseman Blake Jones, has 326 training wins for over $2 million in stakes, as well as 129 driving wins. Lisa, married to gun Victorian reinsman Mark Pitt, trains and drives and has 69 driving and 45 training wins.

“It’s two years since Pa passed away and dad had the idea for a memorial race – and then he had the idea that we should all drive in the race, and it’s just snowballed from there,” Lisa said.

“The club just ran with it which was lovely. Bec and I will be driving horses for Broken Hill trainer Tony Camilleri and Lisa is driving one for Andrew Vozlic from Mildura so its great the trainers have got behind the idea and us as well,” she said.

“There’s a lot of family and friends going up, and locals who remember Pa will be there – it’ll be a pretty special thing.”

The Bartley girls are perfectly at home on tracks of all sizes – but Lisa acknowledged there was a touch of nerves about driving on the 602-metre Broken Hill circuit, which is Australia’s smallest track.

“Someone suggested the best tactic was to get to the front and keep improving!” Lisa said.

“The only trouble is if you’re the one in front, you’re the one who’s got to count the laps.  And if one of us mistakes the laps, we probably all will!” she laughed.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink