Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion-winning harness racing trainer David Aiken will soon leave Victoria as he and wife Colleen look for a change of pace later in life.
Aiken, who has prepared more than 2500 winners in a long and successful career, broke the news of his impending move to New South Wales earlier this week.
āColleen got a job in Wollongong and we have been cutting down since I got a bit of an illness and all that,ā the 64-year-old told Harness Racing NSW.
āBoth of our mothers are still alive and elderly, so we will spend a bit more time in Sydney.
āJust a bit of a life change and slowing down a little bit.ā
Despite the move, the Aiken name will continue to be seen in race fields across Victoria with David and Colleenās son Josh set to play a bigger role at the familyās Avenel property.
āWe will have a little barn at Menangle and still have the barn at Avenel, and Josh will be mucking around with a few down there,ā David said.
āHe is going to drive a little more next year. Through his work he couldnāt drive much on weekends, but he is keen to probably have half a dozen in work there.ā
Josh Aiken has driven 520 winners including 10 at Group 1 level, but only competed in nine races last season.