Mother and daughter celebrate two career milestones

For Queensland horsewomen Ashleigh and Holly Chalmers, the past week has delivered the kind of harness racing memories that will be talked about at family gatherings for years to come.

Within the space of just two days, 16-year-old Holly celebrated her first driving win for her boss Graham Dwyer, before backing it up by delivering her mother Ashleigh’s maiden success as a trainer.

Holly broke through at her 55th race drive when she guided Mister Delwin (Sunshine Beach) to victory at Redcliffe on July 15, before climbing into the sulky behind Kingsbury (Vincent) two days later to hand her mum a first training success at just her 29th starter.

It was a remarkable double milestone for a family whose lives have revolved around horses for generations.

“It was awesome to get that first win – it took a little while and it was getting a little bit frustrating, but the second one came a bit quicker,” Holly said.

“It felt great, especially to do it on one of your favourites and for Graham, because he and Marty have been so good to me.

“Mum was there and we were both pretty excited. I drive Mister Delwin every day and get along really well with him. I didn’t really think I could win, but he raced really well and surprised us.

“Mum’s horse had been racing well and finishing off good and Marty (Dwyer) owns him. I wouldn’t say Kingsbury’s win was unexpected, but it was still really good to get it.  Everyone was pretty excited.”

Holly has been immersed in horses from an early age, but it was one Christmas present that ultimately changed the direction for the entire family.

“I got a mini-trotter for Christmas and that really got everyone back into the sport,” she said.

With her treasured pony Velvet’s Little Star, Holly won the Mini Trotting Inter Dominion in 2023 before completing the Triple Crown the following season by claiming the Miracle Mile, Inter Dominion and Mini Trotting Championship – becoming the only combination to win all three Group 1 mini trotting features in a single season.

Now she has graduated seamlessly into the senior ranks. Holly made the move into full-time work with Graham and Marty Dwyer’s Kingslodge Pacing Stables at North Maclean, near Brisbane, where she works alongside the leading stable’s team of around 40 horses.

“I finished school last year because I wanted to do this full time,” she said.

“I helped Graham and Marty in the holidays, but this is what I’ve always wanted to do and I love it.”

The Chalmers family’s connection with horses stretches across almost every equestrian discipline.

Ashleigh grew up in a harness racing family around Newcastle but never held a licence herself, while husband Chris’s mother, Vicki, trains thoroughbreds.  Chris and Ashleigh spent more than a decade managing studs in the Hunter Valley and the Glenlogan Park in Queensland, with pony club, campdrafting and horses remaining central to family life throughout.

Eldest daughter Krystal helps in the stable while studying teaching at university, and younger daughters Skye, 13, and Savannah, 11, are heavily involved in mini trots, pony club and campdrafting.

“We’ve had horses in every area of our lives – all the girls have travelled the whole country with the mini trotters,” Ashleigh said.

Ashleigh took out her trainer’s licence in March, just a few weeks before Holly had her debut drive.

“We’ve always had a few horses in work with Graham and Marty and we always had it in mind that we’d eventually transition to training a few ourselves,” Ashleigh said.

“Holly lives and breathes the horses. She’s the first one at the stable in the morning, she loves the late nights at the races – it’s all that’s on her radar.

Ashleigh said Kingsbury’s win was a special one for both the Chalmers and Dwyer families.

“Marty is my best friend and still owns the horse, so the win had lots of sentimental value as well. I was happy to get my first win, but mostly I was happy for Holly.”

 

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink