A TAMWORTH horse breaker could have his work noticed by the country’s top jockey after Hugh Bowman’s father bought his services at a fundraiser for the late Darren Jones.
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Adam Newman, a former champion saddle bronc rider who now runs Crown Royal Park Thoroughbreds in Kootingal, donated his services to break in a racehorse as part of the Darren Jones Fundraiser at Tamworth Jockey Club (TJC) on August 24.
It follows the tragic death of Mr Jones, a much-loved family man and highly-respected jockey whose career spanned some 30 years, before he died in a three-jockey fall at the Warialda Cup meeting on April 8.
Mr Jones’ death rocked the tight-knit horse racing industry, who rallied behind his wife, Sheridan, and two sons, Will and Jacob.
Among them was Hugh Bowman, who attended the event as guest speaker after riding Winx to her thrilling Warwick Stakes win at Royal Randwick just days before – her 18th straight victory.
And in a turn of events, it was Hugh’s father, Jim Bowman, of Dunedoo, who made the highest bid on Mr Newman’s donation to break in a horse during the auction.
“I came up to the benefit night for Darren Jones, he rode a few race horses for us, so we came up,” Jim said.
“I got there and there was this break-in, and I had this horse that needed breaking in, so I just bought it.”
Jim praised the work of Mr Newman, who spent just over a month breaking in the three-year-old thoroughbred.
It’s all turned out lovely,” Jim said.
“I’m very pleased with it. It’s almost a different horse to the one we sent up here.”
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Mr Newman didn’t think twice about donating his services to the fundraising cause after hearing of Mr Jones’ death.
“We do a lot of work for (Tamworth trainer) Sue Grills, and Darren Jones worked for her,” Mr Newman said.
“The racehorse industry is quite close. If that wasn’t a heartfelt story … we were in a position where we could help. It wasn’t just me, there were hundreds of others who helped. I just thought I could help even a little bit.”
Mr Newman said there was some work involved in breaking in the mare, but said it was all worth it to help the Jones family in any small way he could.
“There was a little bit of work in her because she was a little bit older than other horses we do,” Mr Newman said.
“(The amount they raised at the fundraiser) that’s unheard of in the bush.”
Jim said the mare was straight off to the horse trainer. The jury’s still out whether his legendary son might make a champion of her yet.
“It’s pretty hard to get him to ride my horses,” Jim laughed.
“But if they’re good enough, he’ll ride them.”