Sulkies and stethoscopes: a new direction for Marika

If Marika Eriksson thought her time in harness racing was finished when she left Australia three years ago to return to Sweden, she was wrong – but life has certainly headed in a new direction.

The popular Eriksson who drove a handful of winners in Australia from 2019, spent time at Yabby Dam farms working with Anton Golino, well as the Mattie Craven and David Aiken stables but elected, to return home in 2022.

“The three all had their way of training – I learnt something different at all three places,” Eriksson said.

“I was a bit tired of doing the horses and felt that I needed to do something else, so I moved back home,” she said.

“I didn’t even bring my driving gear back home to Sweden when I moved back because I was that sick of horses!”

Eriksson applied to study nursing at university, and at the end of May will finish three years of studies to become a registered nurse, with the long-term goal to become a paramedic.

But, despite being burnt out with the sport when she left Australia, the love of harness racing wasn’t quite finished for Eriksson, who went to a harness racing school when she was in her late teens.

“I always sort of knew I wanted to drive horses, but the sport can be pretty hard.  Thanks to my family and a trainer that I helped for a bit as I moved home, I got my confidence and my love for harness racing back,” Eriksson said.

“I don’t work in a stable, nor do I have horses of my own. I do full time studies, a bit of work at the hospital and then I drive races,” she said.

Eriksson took some time to find her touch again, but she is now finding her way regularly to the winner’s stall.

“It wasn’t until the last few months the wins started coming again, and in five days of racing I had three wins and two second places,” she said.

“I’ve had a good year that started with two wins in January and February, then I had some really good results but no wins. I drove in the Swedish Ladies’ Championship and ran second in a heat and fourth in the final with my sister and her fiancé’s horse.

“Just to be one of 12 drivers in that race is a big thing.”

Eriksson has recorded at total of 25 wins in Sweden, including six this year at Bergsåker, Bollnäs and Romme. She has driven five winners at Solvalla, and, from her days living in the south of Sweden, also has wins at Kalmar, Jägersro and Halmstad.

“At the moment I drive horses for a few trainers, some for my mum and dad and some for other trainers. It’s a bit of a mix really,” she said.

“In Europe we race all year round.  A lot of Swedish trainers go down to France during their winter meetings because there is a lot of money in those races, but we have races pretty much every day, all year round.

“The racing is pretty similar to Australia. I did find the Australian carts hard to drive in – you were so far away from the horses and with no extra poles to use, you couldn’t correct the horses while running.  Here, if the horse is running with its bum to the left, you can use your leg to push the extra pole against them, to give them more support.  Our carts are wider, but you sit much closer to the horse. I think ours are more comfortable, but that depends on the driver, I guess.

“I don’t take the wins for granted, I know how hard this sport can be and I’m just so grateful for the amazing results and to the trainers who want to use me as their driver.

“I do miss Australia and all the amazing people I got to meet, but I think if I go back, it will be for a holiday. I’m happy being home in the same country as my family!”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink