4 March 2016
THE decision for Harness Racing New South Wales to become involved with the Women’s Cancer Foundation Ovarian Cancer Institute was an easy one for management to make. Female participants have enjoyed great success in harness racing for many years and when HRNSW was approached to join with Harness Racing Victoria and TAB in raising funds for the WCF it was a logical fit.
Between February 1 and March 12, all female drivers across New South Wales will wear teal driving pants and each time a female driver is successful HRNSW will donate $200 to the WCF with TAB matching the donation. Leading female trainer Belinda McCarthy was also keen to become part of the fundraising effort and a number of her horses carry the WCF silks with Belinda donating $100 per victory while HRNSW is also giving a $100 to the cause each time one of Belinda’s horses are successful while carrying the teal racing colours.
Female drivers across the state of NSW have thrown their support behind the ovarian cancer awareness campaign. Bathurst’s Emma Turnbull took her involvement one step further after being selected to be a WCF ambassador. Turnbull went out and encouraged local businesses, supporters, owners and friends to join her in raising much needed funds for the WCF. With all of the money raised through the harness racing campaign going to the funding of research nurses, Turnbull has 73 individual sponsors donating money every occasion she drives a winner. 72 of her sponsors are donating $20 per win, while Westfund agreed to donate $100 per victory. So effectively every time Turnbull drives a winner, $1940 is donated to the WCF.
Turnbull is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance – and is enjoying her best season since 2007/08. The 36-year-old reinswoman is on target to enjoy the best twelve month stretch in her career and enjoyed success on Miracle Mile day at Tabcorp Park Menangle when she drove All Eyes On Us to victory in the Lady Drivers Invitational. Turnbull was competing against the best female drivers in the country - NZ Cup winner Kerryn Manning, multiple Inter Dominion winner Natalie Rasmussen, Hunter Cup winner Kate Gath, cousin Amanda Turnbull and last season’s NSW premiership winner Lauren Panella.
What started out as an attempt to find a few sponsors for Turnbull during the awareness campaign, turned into something far bigger and it wasn’t long before people were coming up and asking to be involved.
“Mum (Wendy Turnbull) and I decided to make an extra donation to the WCF each time that I drove a winner for our stable during the campaign and then we thought we’d ask a few of our owners to see if they were interested as well,” Turnbull said.
“So many people were happy to jump on board and we thought we’d aim for 20 sponsors but we passed that pretty quickly so we reassessed and thought if I got 50 sponsors who threw in $20 when I drove a winner, it meant an extra $1000 for the cause.”
Turnbull has had support from all parts of the industry and believes it can get bigger in the future.
“We were able to put something together very quickly this year, but with a bit more time next year it could be even bigger. Ovarian cancer kills a number of women in Australia every year and if the harness racing industry can do its bit and help find a vaccine then I’m happy to be a part of the push.
“There has been a lot of local media interest in what we are trying to achieve and that has played its part as well, because I’ve had some people ring me after hearing me on the radio or seeing a story in the paper asking how they can donate to the cause.”
Turnbull received a seven day suspension in February and while she admits it came at a bad time, it didn’t cost her many drives.
“It had been a while since I had been suspended, but I think it only meant that I missed one meeting that I would have driven at, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might end up being.”
Driving opportunities from outside stables have increased this season but Turnbull is adamant her improved numbers are due to driving more winners for her mother.
“The stable at home has been going very well, at the start of the season there were some well graded horses and that always helps. Then once you start to drive a few winners other trainers notice and they then give you more opportunities.
“I’ve driven for a number of different stables this season and I’d like to thank all of the owners and trainers who have given me a chance, it is very much appreciated.”
Turnbull is hoping to add to her six teal winners in the next ten days before the awareness campaign concludes.
“Hopefully I can get one or two winners between now and then, but I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has sponsored and supported me.”