Alicia Harrison will never forget Sunday February 5, 2017. In fact the 20-year-old described it as “the best day” in her life.

The Cambridge-based junior driver made those comments just hours after she reined her first race-day winner at the Tauranga grass track meeting at Gate Pa.

“I’ve had some wonderful things happen to me in my life, like winning the Inter Dominion Kidz Kartz Championship at Alexandra Park in 2010, but this beats the lot. There is no better feeling than this,” Harrison said.

Harrison won her first race at her sixth attempt behind the Arna Donnelly trained No Way Else in the $7,000 Alison Wallis Memorial Junior Drivers Mobile for the R56 to R73 pacers.

It was the first time she had driven the black Elsu gelding. The 6-year-old was the seventh favourite of the seven starters and paid $16.40 to win.

"I wasn't convinced I got up. I thought I did but the angle was quite deceiving. I was a bit worried, but when I got the decision I was ecstatic. This is something I have wanted to achieve for a long time.

“He’s such a great little horse. He kept giving all the way up the straight. I’ll never forget him or what Arna has done for me. It’s the best day of my life,” said Harrison.

Harrison was out celebrating with Donnelly when contacted by HRNZ. She said she was extremely grateful to her boss for her first win.

“Arna has been wonderful. I have been working for her since University finished in November. She had a great day with two wins, a second, and a third from four starters. I’m so pleased for her. She is a very good friend,” she said.

Harrison also had huge praise for her grandfather – Morrinsville trainer, Warren Taylor.

“’Pop’ has been my biggest supporter and was the man who got me excited about harness racing. I’ve been around horses all my life because of him. He bought me my first pony when I was just seven. He fuelled my fire for the sport and has given me five drives now. I love him so much.

“In fact all my other drives have been behind his 9-year-old mare, Sapphire Castleton. It was a great thrill finishing second behind her at Thames a couple of weeks ago – but nothing beats what happened today (Sunday),” Harrison said.

Harrison has brains as well as driving skill.

Born in Te Kauwhata and educated at Morrinsville College she has attended Massey University for the last three years and only has a couple of papers remaining to graduate in a science degree – majoring in agriculture with a minor in equine studies.

“I would like to stay working with the horses and do the last couple of papers this year, and then hopefully get capped next March (2018).

“This is my passion and where I want to be, but who knows? I might get poor and have to get a real job, but at this stage of my life I just want to keep working and driving horses,” She said.

Meanwhile, the feature pacing event of the day – the $10,000 Gartshore Group Tauranga Grass Cup was won by the Chris Webber trained and Peter Ferguson driven Fleeting Grin.

The Grinfromeartoear gelding started from the 10m handicap and beat Mo Casino (10m) and Better Spirits (40m) by three quarters of a length and half a length.

It was his seventh win in 45 starts and he's now amassed $45,055 in stakes. The 6-year-old was the seventh favourite of eight and paid $19.20 to win.

Duane Ranger