ANNA GURNEY...A QUIET ACHIEVER...THERE FOR THE LONG HAUL WITH THE GAME AT HEART..
(1) Name..ANNA GURNEY.
(2) Nickname..Annnie.
(3)How long have you been involved in harness racing..30 years.
(4) What is your involvement..Trainer/Driver/Breeder/Owner.
(5) How did you come to be in the game..Friends.
(6) What or who,has been the strongest influence on you to date..Friends in harness racing who give me good,knowledgeable advice.Also,breeding my own horses.
(7) Role models..None.
(8) Best horse trained..JAMES SHANNON..Favourite horse trained..THOMAS CROWN.
(9) High point to date..Double at Albion Park with JAMES SHANNON and THOMAS CROWN.
(10) Best horse seen..BLACKS A FAKE / SURFING SAFARI (juvenile).
(11) Best trainer..Any trainer who puts in the hard work in a hard industry and keeps their horses looking well and racing consistently.
(12) Best driver..Grant Dixon / Luke McCarthy.
(13) Most useful item of harness equipment used to date..Reins / Lugging pole.
(14) Worst experience seen..Excessive whip use.
(15) Where do you see harness racing in 10 years time..If the sport is not promoted more,harness racing will be the same as it is now.
(16) Where do you see yourself in harness racing in 10 years time..Only training a couple of horses,trying to train a few winners and still learning.
(17) What do we do wrong in harness racing..We don't promote the sport enough.It's only when really big races are on that we read anything GOOD in the newspapers as compared to the gallops.We do not encourage NEW or CURRENT participants in the industry.There are no incentives for participants such as presentation of horses.We are considered second rate to the gallops,yet,we have some beautiful horses.PROMOTE THEM!!
(18) What do we do right in harness racing..Breeding--Qbred system--top stallions.
(19) What should we be doing better..Obtain more media coverage to encourage new participants and fans.Look after participants better--ask their opinion with surveys etc re changing rules.eg.no points for trialling.
(20)Are you a punter...No! The horses cost enough money without losing more.Losing on the punt clouds your judgement on how the horses really perform.