4 November 2015
By Amanda Rando
WITH his wife, his pacer, the cat, dog and even the kitchen sink in tow, horseman Len Clement has finally embarked on a journey he has been longing to do.
Last month Clement, who hails from Bendemeer in north New South Wales, began his life-long dream to drive at every track across the state.
Having already driven at a number of tracks through his experience in the sport, which spans over more than three decades, Clement has created a ‘bucket list’ of where he intends to visit over the season.
“I’m retired now and for the last handful of years I’ve thought to myself that I want to go visit all these little country tracks across NSW,” Clement said.
“You hear about them, read about them and see these tracks in the news and so I decided that I’m going to go to all of them!”
And thanks to his supportive wife Christine, Clement’s dream turned into reality.
Clement has converted his horse float into a mobile house fit with fully functioning kitchen (bar fridge and microwave included), TV and sleeping quarters which all reverts back into a horse float for his pacer Lifeslittlesecret when on the road again.
First stop with this impressive setup was Dubbo but that was not the official start of Clement’s journey.
“We started in Dubbo but I had already driven at that track before so the official start of this trip was at Parkes,” Clement said.
After finishing eighth with his eight-year-old mare, Clement wasn’t disheartened and continued on his way with the daughter of Life Sign to Eugowra, Young and then Leeton.
“I was meant to go to Wagga after Young but my mare didn’t gain a run,” Clement said.
“We’ll go back through Wagga at some stage though so I can have a drive there.
“I’m happy to drive other trainers’ horses if they are happy to have me on . . . I’ve been driving plenty of other trainers’ horses in trackwork.”
Making plenty of friends along the way, Clement has mapped out the month ahead and is making his way with his entourage to Griffith, Blayney, Junee, Albury, Wagga, Canberra, Bathurst and then Bankstown.
“My wife usually calls the Club we are visiting next a week in advance to see what facilities they have on track and see if we can stay on course,” Clement said.
“Every track has been very accommodating.”
Clement even intends on heading out to Broken Hill in the New Year.
“I’m very excited to go to Broken Hill . . . we’ll be out there on January 16,” he said.
“I have a few extra passengers joining us for that trip.”
Stay tuned for more on Len Clement’s journey.