Addington to farewell driver

Press, 19 July 1988, Page 33

Addington to farewell driver

Jack Carmichael retires from race driving, after 48 successful years, tomorrow evening at Addington Raceway.

Having reached the compulsory retirement age of 65, Carmichael, who trains at Templeton, will make his last appearance as a reinsman at the New Brighton Harness Racing Club’s meeting and is guaranteed a warm reception from the Addington crowd if he is able to land a winner. He has three of his own representatives engaged — Tuff Lord (Race three), Galleon Lobell (Race five) and Beau Peer (Race six) — and all, the first especially, appear good prospects. Carmichael will also drive the Eran Crawfordtrained Yma Sumac in Race two, Haughty Nugent, a member of Peter Ryder’s team, in Race 10, and two Jack Smolenski-trained runners — Lumber Prince (Race seven) and Venturer (Race eight). Carmichael began his career working for Wes Butt and drove his first winner (Dawn Grattan) at the Westland meeting in 1942. Most feature events in New Zealand harness racing are included in his career tally of 790, 210 of those wins being scored at Addington. The New Zealand Cup (Globe Bay), InterDominion Trotters’ Grand Final and Dominion Han-

dicap (Precocious), New Zealand Derby (Berkleigh), New Zealand Oaks (Armalight) and Rowe Cup (Astralight) are just some of his important successes. Carmichael rarely missed a meeting at Greymouth or Wellington, winning four Greymouth Cups (Direct Medium, Gold Globe, Globe Bay and Edward Eden) and a Wellington Cup with Globe Bay. His first win as a public trainer was with Eurydice at Victoria Park (Greymouth) in 1960. Social function A social function organised by the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association in conjunction with the Horsemens’ Association, will be held to honour Carmichael at Twiggers Restaurant (Addington) on Friday evening. Also retiring Colin McLachlan and Hughie Lowe will also be making their final appearances as reinsmen tomorrow evening at Addington Raceway. McLachlan will drive Flying Doctor, a member of his own team, in Race two, while Lowe will drive the Paul Young-trained Ministress in Race four.