Harness racing is really onto a winner with amateur driving races which have become a more regular feature of the local harness racing scene in New Zealand.
It has allowed a lot of people who don't rely on harness racing for their main source of income to experience the thrill of driving on raceday and has also helped some working in the industry to show off their driving skills on a bigger stage.
One person who has grabbed the opportunity with both hands is Amanda Tidswell who works for Stonewall Stud at Ardmore in South Auckland.
Since coming home from Australia about eighteen months ago, Amanda has started to carve out a name for herself amongst the northern amateur driving ranks.
" I only really took it up because the stud had a horse or two they thought would suit the amateur races and they wanted a regular driver."
" I have only had five drives but have managed a win, 2 seconds, 1 third and a fifth so its all worked out good so far."
This week Amanda is set to make her Addington debut when she drives Ashton K in the amateur drivers race and Amanda is thrilled to have the drive.
" Ashton K is a really nice horse and I'm rapt to have the drive."
" We had to scratch him last week due to a wee foot issue but he is well over it now and has worked really good this week."
" He was a promising two year old but he got hurt and had twelve months on the sidelines."
" We have given him a long slow buildup and he won nicely first up."
" He is down here to qualify for the futurity final during Cup Week so that is his main aim at the moment," Amanda said.
Southern racegoers might not recognize the name on Friday night but with a UDR of .4889 Amanda Tidswell has shown she has what it takes to win races in the amateur ranks.
Harnesslink Media