Former champion jockey Wayne Harris speaks glowingly of his former “stablemate” Neil Rae. Both were apprenticed to the late Pat Farrell, and while Harris concentrated on metropolitan racing for most of his career Rae opted to stay in the Hunter region where he enjoyed a productive 23 years- productive enough to give him a total of 8 Hunter and North West riding premierships. Wayne Harris suggested I call the former lightweight jockey and talk to him about a possible podcast. A little reluctant at first, Neil finally agreed to join us for a chat about a career that brought him a very impressive 1370 wins.

He begins by talking about the excavators and compactors he operates for the Lake Macquarie City Council.

Always a natural lightweight, Neil says he’s still pretty fit.

Rae was given a nickname by workmates very early in his career. He says it’s still widely used by racing people.

Neil talks about a racing accident at Gosford that left him with a shocking ankle injury.

He talks about a short lived comeback. He was delighted to ride a winner on his final day in the saddle.

Neil talks about early days in Newcastle and his intense dislike of school.

He talks of his first experience in a racing stable followed by his indentureship to the late Pat Farrell.

The retired jockey clearly remembers his first race ride at Muswellbrook, and the thrill of his first win just a few weeks later. He actually landed a double on the day.

Neil remembers his first provincial and metropolitan wins on the same horse.

He recalls being driven to the races by Wayne Harris on the occasion of his first city win, little realising he’d later buy the car in question.

He talks about the valuable tutelage he received from Harris, one of the greatest riders of his generation.

Neil talks affectionately of Irish Flyer, perhaps the most important horse in his early career.

He remembers the brilliant but headstrong Proud Knight. The son of Vain had enormous ability but often refused to race tractably around the turns. There was one unforgettable occasion at Randwick when Proud Knight’s gate opened prematurely.

Neil says his tendency to try too hard early in his career resulted in many suspensions.

He talks of successful associations with leading Newcastle trainers like Paul Perry, Max Lees and later Kris Lees.

Neil says his ability to ride at a featherweight sometimes cost him rides.

He looks back on his eight riding premierships, three of them as an apprentice.

Neil says he was thrilled to be invited to ride two former champion racehorses in exhibition gallops. One was a legend, the other a dominant two year old in the early 80’s.

Neil had only a handful of Gr 1 rides. He was pretty chuffed to ride the third placegetter in the 1989 Sydney Cup. He says the race was run under deplorable conditions.

He talks about fatherhood and the inevitable progression to grandfatherhood.

Neil Rae is well remembered as a jockey of unwavering work ethic. His career win tally of 1370 tells the story. Great to have him on the podcast.

Ashlee Grives nee Siejka left a big imprint on the NSW race driving scene with an impressive tally of 800 winners. She trained many of them in her own right. In more recent years Ash has dabbled in the training of thoroughbreds largely with online purchases. It’s well documented that she has won a race or two with most of them. During her years in the trotting game the gifted horsewoman worked as a veterinary nurse for the famous Randwick Equine Centre, spending much of her time assisting in the operating theatre. Her interest in the anatomy of the horse has remained with her ever since, and played a part in her recent decision to go full time into Equine Rehabilitation. Ash joins us on the podcast to look back on her outstanding career in harness racing, a brief but successful stint as a gallops trainer and a recent transition into a brand new phase of her life.

The Bathurst born horsewoman talks about the grind of horse training and travelling in recent years, interspersed by the arrival of daughter Dulcie and son Reggie.

Ash believes she was beginning to identify the symptoms of “burn-out” after more than twenty years of non stop racing involvement.

She says her interest in rehabilitation work surfaced when friends asked her to try her methods on a handful of unsound horses. She produced some excellent results.

Ashlee outlines the procedure she intends to adopt on horses coming through her practice. Vets will be working with her throughout every programme.

She talks of the unwavering support of Ryan Grives, her husband of ten years. Ryan, a bricklayer by trade, knew little about horses but learned very quickly.

Ash takes us back to early days when her father Michael Siejka was working as a concreter in Bathurst and hobby training a handful of pacers before and after work. She was in the trotting sulky from an early age.

She says the defining moment came when her father sent her to Melbourne to look after a three year old he’d entered for the heats and Final of the Victoria Pacing Derby. By the time the teenager was back in Bathurst she was completely sold on the harness sport.

Ash still laughs about her maiden race drive at Bathurst. She thought she’d followed Michael’s instructions to the letter, and was bewildered by the blast that came her way.

The rising star made sure she didn’t make the same mistake on the same horse a couple of weeks later.

Ash talks about her first job away from horses. It didn’t take her long to realise office work was not for her.

She talks of a move to Sydney soon after, and an appointment as a veterinary nurse with the famous Randwick Equine Centre.

Ash says she had a couple of pacers in training during her time in Sydney. It wasn’t long before a handful of her veterinary colleagues joined the ownership of one of her horses- with happy results.

She remembers the thrill of being booked by leading trainer Paul Fitzpatrick to handle a talented mare in a race for all female drivers at Harold Park.

Ashlee looks back on her amazing season in 2009/2010 when she drove the staggering total of 160 NSW winners. Midway through that stellar term she became the first female to top 100 wins for a harness racing season in NSW.

We give Ashlee plenty of time to pay tribute to her all time favourite horse, and the best she’s ever driven. She takes us back to the Bathurst Yearling Sale in 2013 when she acquired a plain little filly for $3500. Ash recaps Ameretto’s stunning racing career and the horrific setback that would cost the bonny mare her life. In 2017 the unselfish decision was made to send Ameretto to champion Victorian trainer Kerryn Manning who would win ten more races with the daughter of Million Dollar Cam. In one special Gr 1 race Ash got the call to reunite with her wonderful mare.

Ash looks back on a great winning association with prominent Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie. One of the horses in question, a gelding called Lochinver won 24 races including the Truer Memorial.

The talented horsewoman acknowledges the deeds of a few other notable winners to come through her stables.

Ash touches on her brief stint as a thoroughbred trainer.

It’s a pleasure to announce the launch of a brand new career direction for a very gifted young horseperson.