Trina’s Love of the Horse earns special prize

As far back as she can remember, Trina Riddell has loved horses.
Growing up in racing they were a natural magnet, leading her to a brief jockey’s career and then training. She has had a long association with Hall of Fame trainer Murray Baker and more recently his partner Andrew Forsman, for whom she is a key staff member in his Cambridge stable.
Riddell was one of nearly 80 nominations for the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing ‘For the Love of the Horse’ competition aimed at racing industry participants who by the nature of their work give plenty but tend to exist outside the limelight.
Nominations came from throughout the country and covered a wide spectrum, with the theme coming through each and every one of them that the racing industry is full of people with a passion that over-rides everything else.
There was an attractive incentive to draw entries – by the combined forces of ATR, Hawaiian Airlines and the Japan Racing Association – a trip for two to Japan to attend a Group One raceday in Tokyo, followed by four days in Hawaii.
The judging panel tasked with choosing a winner (disclosure: this writer was a member of the panel) initially whittled the full list down to 12, followed by a round table discussion to come up with a winner.
In the panel’s opinion, Trina Riddell fitted the profile perfectly – someone who has devoted her life to caring for horses and stepping above and beyond to ensure their welfare.
Her surprise that others should identify those qualities was obvious when she was presented with her prize by ATR Marketing Manager Laura Madden at Forsman Racing Stables earlier this week.
“I can’t believe this!” was her initial reaction. “I’ve won races as a jockey and trainer and with horses in my care, but I’ve never actually won anything else – not even the smallest Lotto prize.
“When my daughters told me they had nominated me I replied something along the lines of ‘There’s no way I would be winning it’, so yeah, I’m pretty shocked. It’s great that Auckland Thoroughbred Racing came up with this idea, because there are so many people who don’t get the credit they deserve, this has been an excellent way of acknowledging all of them.”
Riddell grew up in South Canterbury as the daughter of someone fully immersed in racing, commentator Lochie Marshall. His beat covered both codes through the central South Island, and racedays were often a family affair.
“We would go to the races with Dad a lot and I loved that, being able to get up close to the horses. I can remember as a little kid heading straight out to the stables and just hanging over the fence seeing all these beautiful horses walk by.
“Once I got to my early teens I had decided I wanted to become a jockey, which sort of disappointed my father as he would have preferred to me to get involved in his favourite code, trotting.
“At the time Kim Clapperton was my idol. She was a leading apprentice based up in the North Island but one day when she was riding at Timaru, I tracked her down and got her autograph. We still laugh about that.”
Riddell did become a jockey, riding three winners from limited opportunities, then when she changed licences she prepared just under 40 winners. Murray Baker employed her back in his days in Woodville, and several years ago he encouraged her to move north and work in his highly successful Cambridge stable.
“I did a lot of travelling back in the day with Murray’s horses, but with two daughters to care for there’s been less of that, in fact I can’t even remember the last trip I took overseas – I’d better check my passport.
“We all miss Murray since he’s been retired, but Andrew is just as enjoyable to work for – he’s very considerate and works in well with other things you need to be doing.”
Having been reassured that Forsman will allow her leave for the trip of a lifetime in February, Riddell must now decide who will be the plus one on her ticket for two.
“I know the girls will be thrilled but I’m going to have to work through it and decide who might be my travelling companion.”