“Mom and Dad encouraged me from an early age to take up a profession. Sometimes I thought: ‘Do I listen or do I go to the horses.’ But no, I made the right decision and I’m really starting to enjoy it,” Riley said.
That’s why he signed up for an internship with the Invercargill-based company Aotea Electrical.
“They’ve been great. I started there in October. The electrical stuff wasn’t easy at first. I took the pre-trade (course) at SIT early last year. I’m starting to get the hang of it, but there’s a lot to it and there are a lot of requirements you have to meet for each job. It’ll be good for me in the long run.”
Black says he hopes to be fully qualified in about three and a half years, but has no plans to retire from Harness Racing.
He currently has a probationary license and hopes to progress to a junior license.
“You need to have twenty-five trials with three or more horses in them. I’ve had the count and I think I need another twelve. If August comes and there’s a chance with some of Dad’s horses, I can get a good start. It will depend on when I’m ready.”
A requirement to qualify for the National Cadet of the Year finals is winning a regional final, which Riley achieved last year.
“It’s pretty much the same every year. You do a timed ride, there is a quiz about horse feed, famous drivers, courses, colors, parts of the horses and equipment.”
Representing Southland he went to Christchurch on the 2ndi.e December for the Nationals.
“I went into the Nationals not knowing what to expect. I started the day slow compared to some of the others, but as the day went on I became more consistent and got better. The interview I did with Brad Steele, I thought I excelled. There was a video segment with Shane Renault de stipe and I thought I did really well in that. We had a segment covering the driving rules with Roddy Butt, which I thought went well.”
The winner was announced on Saturday evening during the annual New Zealand Harness Racing Awards.
“I thought I had half a chance, but it was still a shock that night. When they called Nikata Burton’s name for second place, I thought how badly I had gone. Then Mick Guerin said the Southerners were cleaning up. I was quite surprised and happy. It was a big thrill.”
Riley comes from a family steeped in running history.
His father Alister trains at Branxholme and has prepared 129 winners. He also rode and successfully recorded 62 winners.
Both of Alister’s grandfathers, George Black and Arthur Smaill, also trained.
Riley’s mother Sheree is the granddaughter of former Winton trainer Ron Hamilton who trained 61 winners including Trevira (16) and Trilobal (9). Trevira won the Waikato Flying Mile twice, the Easter Cup, the Ashburton Cup and the Forbury Park Four and Five Year Old Championship. Trilobal’s big win was in the New Brighton Cup.
“We called him (Ron) this morning and he was delighted. I’ve had many congratulations from the whole family and the running community.”
Although his focus is entirely on becoming an electrician, harness racing won’t be far away.
“On weekends I spend time with Dad helping him with the horses and at the races. I’ll never forget the harness. It will always be there in my life, but I’m only seventeen and I have my whole life ahead of me.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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