McCallum Has The Drive Back
There isn’t much Campbell McCallum hasn’t done in racing.
He’s ridden a Broome Cup winner and trained metropolitan winners.
In the past week he’s added driving standardbreds to the list of achievements.
The 32-year-old drove in his first trial at Wanneroo last Thursday and had another two at Byford yesterday.
All three horses won.
McCallum was introduced to harness racing by trainer-driver Luke Edwards, who he met last year.
The pair have gallopers and pacers at Edwards’ Gnangara property and room for other trainers to leave their horses for a weekend.
In that time, McCallum said he has quickly developed a passion for the caper and sees a future in it.
“Luke had a galloper that needed to be pre-trained and he didn’t really know what he was doing,” he said.
“We’ve become good friends and we were joking around that we should go into a partnership.
“It works pretty well because I’ll train the gallopers and Luke will train the pacers.
“Both the thoroughbreds and standardbreds are happy horses too.
“Never in a million years did I think I would enjoy the harness side of it as much as I am.”
McCallum has developed his craft as a driver over the last 12 months and is now in the process of getting his licence to drive in races.
He teamed up with the Maryann White-trained Brewery Lane at Wanneroo last Thursday, before steering the Paula Petricevich-trained Robo Reactor and Edwards-trained Major Artist, above, to wins at Byford yesterday.
McCallum said driving had given him a new lease on life in the racing industry, after he scored 194 wins in the saddle.
“I started driving trackwork and got my fast work licence, but I never thought much of it,” he said.
“I was able to get the horse to the front and run away at Wanneroo which was a real buzz.
“I haven’t been able to go back and watch it, but everyone was happy so I must have done something right.
“I was also happy to do something no one else has been able to do for a while and get Major Artist to win.
“He’s been the perfect horse to learn on and get through the school.
“If I do it right, I should be able to have my licence in three months.”
McCallum has to complete 30 trials, five of which have to be standing starts, to secure his licence to drive in races.
As well as training their own horses, McCallum and Edwards are looking to get more thoroughbred trainers to make the most of their weekend spelling program.
McCallum said there had been some interest from trainers sending their horses for the weekend.
“Luke has got a great place here and it’s all fenced,” he said.
“We offer the chance for horses to race at Ascot, then come here and spend the weekend on the grass.
“It’s an opportunity for trainers to change things up.
“We do a lot of pre-training work for Dan Morton and also had Luke Fernie send one up here.
“We had Otheroneson here for a week then he went back to Dan for a week of work.
“Luke and I both bring different ideas in and I think it works well.”
Tim Walker
Image – Hamilton Content Creators