Our Industry – Craig Abercromby
This week we look at seasoned trainer, Craig Abercromby.
Craig was first introduced to harness racing in WA at the age of 18, when a friend purchased a horse by the name of Silko Patch and asked Abercromby if he was interested in a share. Jumping at the opportunity, the then-teenager bought into the pacer who was less than impressive on the track, failing to break through for a win before being retired after only a few starts, but Abercromby was hooked.
Eventually getting his trainers licence in the 1999/2000 season, Craig Abercromby has had a total of 2323 starters for 171 wins and 424 placings in his 20 years of experience and has had plenty of success over the years with his small team.
“I had a little horse called Forward Pocket win the Italian Sprint. He was a little standing start horse and the following week I took him to Gloucester Park and over same the distance, he drew the same barrier, which was 12, and the race was called Deja Vu Stakes, and he won again.”
Abercromby had lived in the Swan Valley for the past 40 years before selling his 5-acre property in Henley Brook just six months ago, downsizing to make the sea change to his home on the beach in Madora Bay.
“The main reason I sold my property is that I have quite bad arthritis, and was finding it a bit of a struggle,”
“I said to Rob that I can’t keep going like this and he said that he wanted to keep going, so I said it might be time that you get a property and I’ll be the one that drives in and out every day and you can be there all the time, rather than the other way around.” Abercromby said.
“I love it (Madora Bay). I go down to the beach everyday with my Labrador and take him for a walk,”
“It’s just different after being on a property for 40 years and looking after everything. Now we have artificial lawn, no wood heater, I’m quite happy.” He laughed.
Craig Abercromby and his family recently purchased Gregarmy, who up until Monday, when having his first start for the family, was a nine-start maiden who had failed to finish any closer than fourth. Purchased just weeks ago for $8000, the four-year-old has had his issues on the track, breaking at each of his starts, but Abercromby had his eye on the gelding for quite some time before approaching the owners to see if they were interested in selling.
“We had seen him work at Byford and I thought ‘what a beautiful horse’, I contacted the owner in charge of the syndicate and told her if that horse came up for sale, I would be interested in him,”
“He was in really good condition when we picked him up, it was a real credit to Adrian (Pike),”
“I think he (Gregarmy) could be a bit special.” He said.
Gregarmy broke through for his maiden win on Monday in an impressive 1:55:8 over the 1684m sprint trip under a hold, with the lightly raced four-year-old showing that he could have quite a future ahead of him.
“As long as we can keep him sound and everything together, put it this way, I wouldn’t sell him.”
Abercromby retired 12 years ago and has maintained a team of 6 to 8 horses in work at any given time, but since making the move south, Craig and Rob have 10 horses in work between them and hopes to continue training until his body tells him its time to slow down.
Ashleigh Paikos