Episode 349: Maddie Raymond

Maddie Raymond has been training in her own right for just two years but has already given notice that she has arrived in the Victorian training ranks. A Gr 3 with Earlswood, a Gr 2 with Turaath and a sequence of country Cups with Wentwood have brought her under notice in recent months. Maddie joins us on the podcast to talk about her journey with horses, from Warrnambool pony club to racing’s big stage. She talks firstly of her acquisition of Earlswood and the way she got him fit enough to win first up after such a long absence. She discusses the hot form of another import Turaath who’s won four consecutive races for the Raymond stable. She highlights the mare’s stunning win in the Gr 2 Let’s Elope Stakes. Maddie talks of Wentwood, a two time winner for Dermot Weld before joining her stable. The gelding took a while to get going but has now won five races in Australia. The twenty eight year old takes us back to pony club days in Warrnambool and the aged thoroughbred mare who got her hooked on racehorses. Maddie acknowledges the tuition she gained from several high profile Victorian trainers, and a six month stint with an Irish training legend. She was working for Darren Weir when she met Prince Of Penzance, and instantly fell in love with the horse who would win a Melbourne Cup and inspire the making of a popular movie. Maddie actually appeared in “Ride Like A Girl.” Maddie talks of her ten months helping to establish Linsey Smith’s Warrnambool stable. During this time she forged a special relationship with Black Heart Bart. The talented trainer looks back on a dream trip to Dubai on the invitation of Kris Lees. She looked after Brave Smash in the lead up to his unsuccessful tilt at the Alquoz Sprint. During her time in the UAE Maddie met a young man who was destined to become her partner. She acknowledges the talents of Paddy Bell, a former jockey who went on to work for leading stables in Australia. During his time with Peter Moody, Paddy got to ride Black Caviar in most of her trackwork and accompanied the champion mare to the UK. Maddie talks of her frequent trips to Lady Bay Beach where her horses are swum and allowed to stretch their legs under saddle on a beautiful strip of beach. She acknowledges the efforts of her father Eddie who excels in his role with the oars. The popular trainer outlines the facilities available at Roseneath Lodge- the property owned by her parents where she grew up and began her life with horses. Today Roseneath is home base for Raymond Racing. On the downside Maddie talks of a distressing social media attack when one of her horses appeared on the Inglis Digital Auction. She explains how it happened. The trainer pays tribute to a group of gifted jockeys who share her stable riding duties. She talks of the way in which she manages the stress of her role as a professional trainer. She’s not one to explode on race days. Maddie is perhaps best known for her success with mature imported horses, but she also enjoys training two year olds. She talks of a couple of promising youngsters she has in the stable currently.