How many harness racing drivers do you know that have driven a winner at every single track in the state? Well you’re about to get to know one!
With only eight winners to go before he reaches the four hundredth milestone, Peter Tilbrook is far from your average guy.
Born and raised in Westonia, a small town out of Merredin, the second youngest of five was educated at Merredin Senior High before moving to the big smoke at the age of sixteen to start an apprenticeship in Green-keeping with the South Perth Bowling Club.
After the completion of his apprenticeship, Tilbrook or ‘Tilly’ as his friends know him, moved to York and started working full-time for the York Bowling Club as their Greenkeeper.
With the equine passion already in his blood, Tilly helped out his father Ken with his small team of horses and eventually took over the stable. In 1992 Tilly drove in his first race with Captains Knock running third at Kellerberrin and went on to drive his first winner at Busselton for his father behind Certainly Sir.
At the age of 22, Tilly received his trainer’s licence and took over the ropes from his father. Having trained 155 winners from 1375 starts thus far, he has had group success with horses such as La Mia Juliette, Crombie and Dasher VC and looks forward to the years to come.
His first Group One success came in 2005, winning the Westbred three-year-old Fillies State Sires Final for Marryann White behind her classy filly Beverley Button.
In the prestigious year of 2012 when I’m Themightyquinn kept his title as Inter Dominion King, Tilly enjoyed Group successes with Dasher VC placing second behind Quinny in the Pacing Cup; he took out a heat of the Inter Dominion with gun pacer Crombie; and finished fourth in both the Western Australia Leading State Trainer and Leading Metropolitan Trainer Premierships for the season.
Tilly has a few people to thank for his knowledge in harness racing but there is one person that stands out to him the most. Northam based trainer Jesse Moore offered his assistance to Tilly from the very start, giving him the trial drives which eventuated into race drives. Tilly worked for Moore for four years and learnt a lot from him, describing him as one of the greatest guys in the game that you will ever come across.
Throughout his career so far, Tilly has had many highlights but it is one that comes to mind that will stay forever close to his heart. In his early twenties he led out the York Cup field behind multiple Group One winner and 1986 Inter Dominion winner Village Kid.
Making a name for himself as one of Western Australia’s most renowned Standardbred pre-trainers, Tilly prides himself on his dedication to the game and has worked hard to find his place within this industry. After many years, and as hard as it is to believe, in the current year of 2016 he finally let go of the past and upgraded from his trusty Nokia to a smart phone. “Oh how times have changed.”
Is there anything other than driving/training you would rather do: No
What do you have OCD about: Washing horses’ heads properly
How do you want to be remembered: As a good honest, hardworking fella
If you had the chance to be something what would it be: Australian Cricketer
Who is the best looking person in harness racing: Nathan Turvey and Amy Baxter
Ashlea Brennan