Troy follows his passion

15 April 2021

SOUTH Windsor trainer Troy Williams has held a strong passion for harness racing for as long he remembers.

In fact, Troy was born into the sport at Dubbo where his parents Gary and Judy were heavily involved.

Still regarded as one of the best administrators of her time, Judy was secretary of the Dubbo Harness Racing Club while Gary trained a small team of pacers and even had a crack at being a racecaller.

Williams learned a lot from his father and other horsemen throughout the Western Districts and he drove for his parents in races when he was a teenager.

The family eventually moved to Bathurst where Troy’s younger siblings Aaron and Casey both took up the sport as trainer-drivers.

Troy’s uncle and aunt Graham and Monica Betts and their children all share the love of the game and are popular figures in the Bathurst harness racing fraternity.

Troy gave driving away and relocated to Queensland where he worked outside the industry for 15 years.

He returned to Sydney eight years ago and got back into the sport after purchasing the square trotting mare Iona Grinner, who has been the star of his stable, winning $262,000 in stakes.

About 18 months ago, Williams was made redundant from his job and decided to take up training the horses full time . . . and he has no regrets.

“I have been back in the game for eight years now and working a team of 16 horses at my Grinner Lodge property in Windsor,” said Williams.

“I have had some good success along the way and hopefully it will continue tonight at Penrith.” 

Williams, who recently copped the brunt of one of the state’s worst floods which forced him to evacuate from his home base, has two runners engaged at Penrith.

“Both my horses that are racing tonight have been in good form,” he said.

“Major Statement (Race 1) should go close to winning from barrier one.

“The 1730 metre trip will suit him as he was run down last start over the longer journey.

“Robbie (Morris) knows the horse very well and will give him every chance, I am sure.”

The second of Williams’ runners is Shadow Eclipse (Race 3), who ran third here last week after having a hard run.

“Last start this bloke worked forward and raced without cover and was only narrowly beaten,” said Williams.

 

- MICHAEL DUMESNY