Episode 198: Darren Binskin

In Part 1 Darren talks of a lifetime in the Bankstown harness racing precinct. He remembers the days when hundreds of horses were worked from stables in the Condell Park area. Today it’s a ghost town. He remembers the day a Channel 10 TV crew filmed a story on harness horses for Simon Townsend’s Wonder World. He reveals his reasons for never wanting to train big teams of horses. Darren talks about his relationship with high profile owner Emilio Rosati who was once his next door neighbour. He talks of his grandfather Jack a highly regarded trainer in the boom years at Harold Park. Darren reflects on life with his late father John who died in 1999. He talks of the many good horses to come through John Binskin’s hands. The trainer remembers the occasion of his first drive out of a mobile barrier. It was at Rockhampton in Queensland and he had to beat a pretty good horse to win. Darren looks back on his first trip to the US in 2001. Based in Ohio he quickly made a name for himself as a race driver. Everything was going swimmingly until he was involved in a freakish accident. He pays tribute to a handful of special horses he’s had the pleasure to train during his career. Darren looks back on a low point in his career. The innocent administration of a harmless paste to pacer Gaius Caesar resulted in the horse being scratched by the stewards from the Miracle Mile. He says his love of the standardbred has never diminished. He’s as dedicated today as he’s ever been. .Darren makes special mention of his mother Rita who rarely missed a meeting at Harold Park.