Keeping Pace: Women wear the trousers for charity

With February being the month of the teal trousers campaign for reinswomen where Harness Racing NSW donates $200 for each winning drive by the ladies to the Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Tamworth’s very own Sarah Rushbrook opened the account for the north-west at last week’s Tamworth meeting with a win in the opening event behind Jackeroo Shannon, which she trains and drives.

Rushbrook’s win was then followed by Lola Weidemann (Miss Catalina) and her niece Stacey Weidemann (Readily).

There are 69 reinswomen in NSW and in the first week they have raised $3200.

That amount is set to rise on Sunday with 26 runners engaged at the Tamworth meeting having the services of reinswomen.

DUBBO’S Jacqui Ingham trained her first winner when You Light My Fire won the Thankyou Volunteers and Staff for a Successful January Carnival Pace at last week’s Tamworth harness meeting.

“It’s pretty bloody good,” said an elated Ingham after the win. “She gets around the track well –  she is beautiful.”

After racing out in the breeze with Uralla reinsman Mitch Faulkner in the spider, You Light My Fire pulled away for a 16.5 metre win over Our Joshy Boy (Chris Shepherdson) and Shaytell (Sam Ison) another 6 metres away third.

Ingham herself is a reinswoman but is currently sitting on the sidelines due to an injury, so a win as a reinswoman still escapes her.

“I dislocated my shoulder so I haven’t been driving,” she said.

“My grandfather Lex Bramble owns the colours – it’s 15 years since those colours have seen the winners circle - he would be very excited.”

Mitch Faulkner drove a winning driving double with Reciprocity having a win for his own stables earlier in the meeting before he guided the win home for Ingham.

Jacqui nearly achieved a winning double but just fell short when Roseuponher finished second to Baby Luv (Leigh Sutton) in the previous event.

MENANGLE  is about to commence its big month of racing with the Chariots of Fire tomorrow night. Dubbo pacer Our Uncle Sam from the Chris Frisby stables is chasing its share of the $400,000 prizemoney.

The following Saturday (February 17) will see the $100,000 Canadian Club/Allied Express Sprint (Group 1), and Saturday, February 24 will see the $750,000 Miracle Mile contested.

THE first race at Tamworth this Sunday is set to go at 6pm.