Benham brothers looking forward to Sunday

Steve and Mick Benham won’t have to travel far when they go racing on Sunday.

 

The brothers who are both Caboolture standardbred trainers have horses racing in five of the seven harness racing heats on Sunday, the final day of the three day 85th Caboolture Show.

 

The Benhams have been racing most of their lives and Steve reckons nothing beats show racing.

 

“I started working for Ken Belford when I was still at school and by the time I was 13, I was out of school and working at the stables, I grew up on show racing,” Steve said.

 

After getting his trainers licence 30 years ago, Steve started out at Redcliffe  then moved to Ipswich before settling back in Caboolture two years ago.

 

Steve and Mick now operate their business at a former thoroughbred property, just 8 minutes from the Caboolture Showgrounds.

 

“It’s a good spot to train, a nice property with a 1400 metre sand track,” Steve said. “Michael only got his harness trainers licence three years ago, because I had mine and he didn’t need it, but he has lots of experience.” “He started with the late John Kaan before working for former leading thoroughbred trainers Brian Mayfield-Smith and Bruce McLachlan.”

 

The Benhams race wherever they can and they are big on Show Racing.

 

The brothers were very happy when Racing Queensland reintroduced show races to the calendar last year.

 

“It was a tragedy when racing was not at the shows, we lost the country racetracks, the tracks up north and the shows and there was just nowhere for some horses to go, if they couldn’t win at Albion Park or Redcliffe, they would have to go to Marburg (near Ipswich) hoping for a win once a month,” Steve said.

 

“Now there is more opportunities for them to race, their careers are extended, the horses have a new lease on life.”

 

In all, 10 races will be raced at the Showgrounds with racing starting at 11.00am. with the three $1500 finals, a collation of the best of the seven R0, R1 and Discretionary class heats, scheduled to be raced at 2.45pm, 3.00pm and 3.15pm

 

All races will be raced from a standing start over 1700 metres, four laps of the Caboolture show track.

 

The Benham’s will harness up Tamara Tonite, Stand Emporium, Mister Mosby, Left In Command and Our Orville.

 

Left In Command ran a nice race at Redcliffe last night and looks to be well placed in the Discretionary Handicap (1700m).

 

“Our horses didn’t draw well but Left In Command is racing well so hopefully he will make the Final,” Steve said.

 

The Weidemann family, Lola, Julie and Stacey, also regulars at the regional shows again will be present with their team of pacers contesting each of the heats.

 

The Weidemann’s travel the country with their horses and are regulars at country tracks and shows in New South Wales.

 

Last year they took centre stage winning the Show Final at the RNA Brisbane Exhibition.

 

But it’s not just the Benhams and the Weidemanns that are Show fanatics, supporters of the shows will come from all regions with trainers from Clifton to Tamborine and most areas in between represented at Caboolture.

 

Other trainers and drivers competing include Darren Ebert, the son of show stalwart Kerry Ebert, who is driving for the Benham's at the Show, Lacey Hinze, Ricky Gordon, Stephen Woodward, Dan Russell, Noel Parrish, Doug Lee, Allan Sanders, John Kerr, Ricky Hart Gary Litzow, Dean Weller, Trent Hodges, Darryl Reinke, Kevin Annetts, Phillip Chappenden, Clint Sneddon, Wendy Smart, Scott Williams, Dudley Warburton, Gavin Wright, Stewart Dickson, Warren Hinze and Justin Storie.

 

Show harness racing continues at Nambour’s Sunshine Coast Show with a three day harness racing card on 12,13, 14 June.

 

Nominations for the Sunshine Coast Show close with Racing Queensland on Monday 8 June at 10.00am