Cambridge harness racing legend Nicky Chilcott is on the cusp of another personal milestone.
Tears flowed after Messenger Buoy with driver Leah Hibell won for trainer Nicky Chilcott on December 19 at Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The 53-year-old veteran trainer needs one driving win to notch up 700 wins in the sulky, cementing her place as the country’s second best female driver.
She brought up 699 last week at the Cambridge Raceway in race three driving favourite Showtym Girl and had a chance to bring up the milestone in race eight behind Idolou but was well beaten.
Chilcott doesn’t have a drive tomorrow night (Friday) at her home track on Cambridge Raceway, but will be in action at Otaki next week.
The 700 total will be 121 short of South Island-based Samantha Ottley’s mark and well behind the only drivers to have more than 3000 career wins – Te Awamutu’s Tony Herlihy (3693), Maurice McKendry (3410) and Ricky May (3146).
“To be honest I’m not a numbers’ person,” said Chilcott. “I’m pretty proud of the achievement though.”
From 7902 starts since her first win behind Local Choice at Auckland on July 2, 1993, she has notched up 699 wins, 760 seconds and 746 third placings for stake money of $5.342 million.
Trainer Nicky Chilcott in the stables with Sacred Mountain a.k.a. Milly who is now racing in Australia. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
She is also in the exclusive 500 trainers’ club with 558 wins from 4945 starts.
Chilcott doubts she will get to 800 driving wins but reckons she still has another 10-15 years in the sulky ahead of her mostly driving the horses she trains.
“I’m starting to slow down, and I don’t freelance anymore. I used to actively ring around for drives, but I don’t anymore.”
She has 22 horses in her White Star Stables next to the Cambridge Raceway and Village Rebel is arguably the best in what she describes as a “bread and butter” crop.
“I don’t have stars as such but we’re ticking away nicely.”
One of them is Messenger Buoy who won an emotional race on December 19 driven by Leah Hibell. Ten days earlier, part owner Alan Messenger of Taranaki died and his fellow owners – wife Lyn and daughter Maree – were on hand to see the win.
Chilcott has one horse entered tomorrow night – Blazing Louie in race seven – but Andre Poutama usually drives the six year old gelding.
Meetings on the grass in Otaki on Sunday and Tuesday loom as the likely opportunities for Chilcott to bring up the milestone.
It is one her favourite tracks and she is taking down a team of 10 to compete at its first full race meeting since the pandemic.
“I’ve had some good results there over the years so that will be a good place to do it,” said Chilcott.
Nicky Chilcott drives Showtym Girl home at Cambridge Raceway last week for her 699th winner in the sulky. Photo: Angelique Bridson, Cambridge Raceway.
