Ricky Duggan has been a prominent fixture in Tasmanian harness racing for over 30 years and in 2014 was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ricky was born and bred in New Norfolk and still lives there today with his wife Linda. In this multi-part series, Jamie Cockshutt caught up with Ricky to discuss the people, the horses and everything in between that has earned him such a successful racing career.
Introduction to Harness Racing
At the age of 12, Ricky would venture down to his Uncle Ken (Austin) and Aunt Maxine’s property on weekends and school holidays and that is where he first learned all the basics of life in a harness racing stable.
Ken Austin was one of the leading trainers at the time and had a good team of horses.
“Ken lived in Glenorchy, so he was able to just jog them a short distance through the streets up to the Royal Showgrounds and work them there which was great. It is definitely something you couldn’t do in today’s society though,” said Ricky.
Ricky also gained further exposure to the industry via his stepfather, Phillip “Bruiser” Young, who had a small team of horses that he trained from out the back of the Star and Garter Hotel in New Norfolk.
Jumpin Jack Jasper along with (L-R) driver Ricky Duggan, stable foreman Phillip Young and owner Steph Pye.
The time Ricky spent with Ken had given him a solid knowledge base and it was around this time that Bruiser encouraged Ricky to learn to drive the horses which is where Duggan’s journey into harness racing really began.
“I started learning to drive when I was 14 and it felt so natural to me, so I was really hooked and fell in love with it at a young age,” recalled Duggan.
“Bruiser taught me so much including how to use a stopwatch and how to rate a horse and I still use that advice to this day”.
It was a horse called Mister Medsun that holds a special place in the heart of Duggan, giving him his first race drive.
“I used to drive him in all his trackwork, and I learned my craft on him. He ended up being my first race drive which was a huge thrill”.
Duggan’s first race winner also come from Bruiser Young, steering home Bonita Michelle which was on his hometown track of Kensington Park, New Norfolk back in 1987.
Bruiser is Ricky’s mother’s lifelong partner and has been a great stalwart for Tasmanian Harness Racing throughout his life, including still working horses to this day.
“He still helps my brother Adrian most mornings working his team of horses so it’s fair to say he still has the passion for Industry,” said Ricky Duggan.
Fred Medhurst
Ricky touched on another person who had an impact during the early years of his time around horses and he has fond memories of the days he would spend out at Fred Medhurst’s property at Magra.
Ricky and his brother Adrian could not wait for the school day to end as youngsters, eager to head up to the Medhurst property.
Fred Medhurst with one of his horses at his Magra property.
“We would race home and tell Mum we were just heading out to Fred’s so we would jump on our bikes and head off for the afternoon on what would have been a five kilometre ride.
“But the great times that we all had out there will stay in my memory forever. It wasn’t just me and Adrian who would head out to Freddie’s either, as when we arrived the likes of a young Sam Rawnsley, Anthony Waddington, Chip Ashwood and of course Fred’s son Zane would also be there.”
It wasn’t all fun and games for the boys though, having to complete their chores including getting the feeds ready and doing the yards before cutting up all the chaff and only after completing these duties would they be allowed to get in the gig.
The days were long, and Duggan remembers fondly that the sun going down didn’t necessarily mean the day was over.
“When it came time to start working the horses, if it was getting dark Fred would put cars around the track and turn the headlights on so we could see what we were doing,” laughed Ricky.
Eric Fleming
Ricky is eternally grateful for an opportunity he was given upon leaving school when he got the chance to work for the legendary horseman Eric Fleming at his Killarney Stud in 1987.
“Eric was a huge influence on myself and had a major part to play in the person I am today. I can’t speak highly enough of this great man as he just opened up so many opportunities for me in the harness game” said Ricky.
Fleming and wife Rene treated Ricky like one of their own which was fine with Ricky, particularly when he learned of the prowess Rene had in the kitchen.
“Smoko breaks at Killarney Stud were a sight to be seen as she could definitely put on a spread. Rene is a legend in her own right,” Ricky said.
Ricky’s time at Killarney Stud afforded him the opportunity to learn a different facet of the harness game as there was an emphasis on both the racing and breeding side of things.
“We would have 15 to 20 horses in work for most of the year along with breaking plenty in as Eric was renowned as a seller and would travel all over Australia to buy yearlings either at stud farms or the yearling sales.
Halyer with Lily-Mae Hayes and her mother Ana Hayes and Don Cooper in background.
“Eric sold some of the best horses to ever grace the racetracks in Tasmania including Halyer who no doubt most people are familiar with as he was just a brilliant horse,” stated Ricky.
Halyer is remembered as one of the best pacers produced in Tasmania with his biggest win being the 1990 Australian Derby.
Killarney was a busy time during breeding season and Ricky remembers it was all hands on deck during those periods.
“It got much busier between October to February each year, but Eric was able to call on some very good people to give us a helping hand during this period including Barry Butler (whose son Marc is now one of the state’s leading trainers). My brother Adrian and Rodney Ashwood were also on hand both during the breeding season and whenever we needed some extra help”.
For Ricky, his time with Eric coincided with his career beginning to blossom due to the quality of drives he was able to secure.
“My career really started to take off once I became Eric’s stable driver as I was able to get on some very smart horses for him.
“I was able to establish myself in the top half dozen drivers in the state during a vintage era.
“It was just so competitive with the likes of Neville “Nifty” Webberley and Barrie Rattray being at the top of the tree. Rohan Hadley was really starting to hit his straps as a quality driver as was Mark Stanley who had some great horses in this era as well. Tony Petersen and Ray Pullen were also great competitors,” said Duggan of his competition at the time.
Ricky recounted some of the top horses he had the chance to drive during his tenure with Eric Fleming:
“Smooth Rocket was one of my favourites as he was just a little pocket rocket who had a massive heart and always gave his all. I was fortunate enough to win 16 races on him with one of the highlights being the Three-Year-Old Championship in 1995 where he beat the likes of Northern Brewer”.
“Shiver Me Timbers was another very smart pacer Eric trained. I was able to win 20 races on him. Brian Hancock drove him for his other win at Harold Park before he was retired due to injury”.
Shiver Me Timbers won the Globe Derby Stakes as a three-year-old and followed up the following season winning the 1997 Devonport Cup.
“Timbuctoo was a full brother to Shiver Me Timbers and was a handy type in his own right winning 13 races during which I drove him in all of his wins while he raced in Tasmania”.
“Shillelagh was a special horse to me as he was one that I trained, and part owned with Eric. He was also a full brother to both Shiver Me Timbers and Timbuctoo and won the Dandy Patch at his second start which was a huge thrill for me being his part owner, trainer and driver. He went on to win another seven races but never reached the heights we thought he would”.
When Eric decided to scale down the operation at Killarney, Ricky decided to have a red hot go at being a freelance driver with his blessing.
After leaving Eric’s, Ricky got a job with the Derwent Valley Council where he is still employed today as a groundsman for most of the sporting grounds, parks and reserves in the New Norfolk area.
“Working for the council has been great as if I need to go to a meeting during the week, they were very cooperative in allowing me to go and continue my driving career.”