A trio of thoroughbred racing’s unheralded members will vie for the Trackwork Rider of the Year Award at Saturday night’s TAB Industry Awards.
Gemma Lind and Hazel Fertier from Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier’s Libby Halliday are the three finalists for the inaugural award.
Halliday is a former apprentice rider who spent two years race riding and is sourced by a host of South East trainers riding upwards of 20 horses most mornings.
“I ride work for a lot of the Mount Gambier trainers,’’ Halliday said.
“I probably ride between 12 to 15 horses a day through winter and that could be anywhere near 20 during summer.
“I even head to Bordertown one day a week and ride for Sam Turner,’’ she said.
Lind works for Garret Lynch at Murray Bridge and has been a key part of his stable’s brilliant form which saw him finish fourth in the South Australian Trainer’s Premiership in season 2021-22.
“It’s nice to be recognised for the work you do,’’ Lind said.
“I love strangely enough the early morning, the sunrises, and getting the horses to win races… I love everything about it,’’ she said.
Fertier is another highly respected rider who works for a host of leading Murray Bridge trainers.
“Hazel is the beating heart of this racetrack,’’ trainer Kristi Evans said.
“She’s a genuine friendly kind person, and that goes into the horses, they feed off her energy,’’ she said.
Fertier grew up with horses and said despite initially expecting to change career paths had fallen in love with what she does.
“Somewhere along the way I worked out working with racehorses is what I wanted to do,’’ Fertier said.
“I grew up with horses, it was a natural progression as a first job. I really enjoy educating young horses,’’ she said.
