Episode 361: Chris Alford

As this podcast goes onto the website Chris Alford is closing in on an astonishing 7650 career wins which include 124 Gr 1’s. To put those figures into perspective we should look at the Australian riding record held by NSW jockey Robert Thompson who retired last year with a record of 4447 wins. He’d been riding for 48 years and was 63 years old when he quit the saddle. Chris Alford is approaching 54 and has been race driving for 38 years. When not at the races, the champion reinsman is working horses at home for his trainer wife Alison. He talks about their Bolinda training property. Chris talks about the massive number of hours he’s spent on the road during his career. He fondly remembers his late father Barry, a successful trainer and driver in his own right. Barry stood down from the driving duties when his son emerged as a budding talent. Chris talks of his father’s battle with diabetes and his sad passing 16 years ago. He talks of his early departure from school to pursue a career in harness racing. The record breaking driver has never forgotten his first winning drive at Wangaratta and his initial metropolitan success. Chris acknowledges several fellow drivers for whom he had special admiration and forecasts a bright future for a current Victorian youngster. We set aside extra time for Alford’s tribute to the great Golden Reign who took the young driver to the big stage. Chris drove the great horse in 26 0f his 28 wins. He remembers the highs and lows of his long association with the Noel Alexander/ Jayne Davies training team.  There’s only one horse Chris rates the equal of Golden Reign. In recent years he had the privilege to partner Lennytheshark in 32 of the great pacer’s 39 wins. “Lenny” was the horse to give Chris victory in a Miracle Mile- the race he was beginning to think he’d never win. He pays a warm tribute to his all time favourite mare Tailamade Lombo. He won 35 races on the Makybe Diva of the harness world. He talks of owner breeder Mick Lombardo who kept coming up with talented horses. An amazing horse called Mont Denver Gold came into the Alford stable at a time when Barrie’s health was deteriorating rapidly.The pacer was lowly assessed but was to make dramatic improvement. Chris talks of the joy Mont Denver Gold brought to his ailing Dad. Some trots fans may be surprised with Alford’s very high rating of Blue Eagle. Chris pays tribute to his favourite horse from the days of his successful association with the Stewart/Tonkin stable. The champion driver is universally known as “The Puppet”. He talks of the derivation of that curious nickname. Chris has always had great affection for the “square gaiters”. He acknowledges some of his all time favourite trotters. He talks affectionately of family- wife Alison, daughter Katie and son Sam. Katie and Alison are “hooked” on horses. Sam can take ‘em or leave ‘em. This is a wonderful chat with an Australian harness racing icon. He’s in reminiscent mood and as humble as ever.