WITH more than 50 years involvement in the harness racing industry it is fair to say that Geoff Simpson is experienced, yet even a trainer-driver who has been around as long as he has could not have imagined what it was like to win the Gold Crown final.
Simpson was there when the Bathurst Harness Racing Club first staged the Gold Crown Carnival – he even drove in the Gold Crown final for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Last year, 31 years after that inaugural final, Simpson took out the feature Group 1 feature with a colt called Castalong Shadow.
He had not really rated his Shadow Play x Leslie Jay hopeful a chance of winning, but an even bigger shock than the upset victory for Simpson was the response he got.
“When we went across the line it didn’t really sink in, but then we got further down the track and Mat Rue congratulated me and shook my hand, then when we pulled up another driver congratulated me, I thought, ‘Geeze we’ve won this thing’,” Simpson said.
“Then to come back and get that reception. I’ve watched some really good races and the reception the winners got – I think my reception outdone all of them.
It took me a little by surprise the reception, not being a high profile driver, but it was really appreciated.
Geoff Simpson
“To win the race and have the response we got from people in the industry, it was fantastic. People I hadn’t heard from in years and years but that I’ve know for ages, they were ringing up and I got letters and cards from people.
“I got a letter from Colin Watts, he’s a very respected man in the industry, congratulating me and Tony Turnbull came around and congratulated me after the race. I’m very appreciative, getting that acknowledgement of my little horse.
“It took me a little by surprise the reception, not being a high profile driver, but it was really appreciated.”
Castalong Shadow went on to finish his two-year-old season with a record of four wins and three seconds from nine starts, a Group 3 Rod Fitzpatrick Memorial victory following the Gold Crown triumph.
It saw more accolades come for the humble Lithgow trainer-driver.
“He won the two-year-old colt and gelding of the year and he won the overall two-year-old of the year too,” he said.
This year Simpson and Castalong Shadow will return to the carnival, this time to contest the Gold Chalice series for three-year-old colts and geldings. It features a $55,000 Group 2 final.
Simpson knows his colt will face stiff competition in Monday’s heats, but no matter what happens, he will always carry with him the memories of the night he won the Gold Crown.
By Anya Whitelaw