Enjoy nothing more than heading “bush” for our podcast chats. This week we go to Big River Country to catch up with Grafton trainer Dwayne Schmidt who operates a twenty horse operation from Grafton. After a successful training stint in Queensland, Dwayne headed back to NSW when the track problems at Eagle Farm persisted. He admits he was sorry to leave Brisbane.
Dwayne says he strongly considered Ballina as a training base before settling on Grafton.
He has some nice things to say about the promising Alf’s Magic.
Durnstein produced a stunning maiden win at Grafton during the July carnival. Dwayne talks about the potential of this promising son of Exosphere.
Dwayne takes us back to his riding career which began with an apprenticeship to Leslie Picken when Canterbury was still a training base.
He still finds it hard to believe he actually rode his first winner on the hallowed turf of Royal Randwick.
Dwayne remembers a two horse track gallop at Canterbury which gave him almost as much satisfaction as a race win.
He talks of his return to the mid north coast and a new job with trainer Glen Hodge. He looks back on a great winning trot. He remembers the day his new boss expressed dissatisfaction with one of his rides.
Dwayne recalls his sole win on champion bush galloper Stop A Punch.
He looks back on the decision to quit the saddle when his health was suddenly threatened by wasting and the use of diuretics.
Dwayne looks back on his final day of race riding at Taree in 1995. His last ride was a winner which triggered a wave of emotion.
He looks back on nine years of training in Port Macquarie from the Glen Hodge stable. Then came a surprise invitation to become a private trainer on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Dwayne admits he was very lucky to find stabling at Eagle Farm. He talks of some very talented horses to pass through his Brisbane stables.
He pays tribute to daughters Priscilla and Cassie who both enjoyed successful riding careers. Cassie is now training in her own right, while Priscilla has forged a new career with Sky Thoroughbred Central alongside veteran presenter Gary Kliese.
Dwayne talks of the riding talents of 14 year old son Blake.
He acknowledges the support of his wife Tahlia whose talents as a trackwork rider play a major part in the continuing success of his Grafton stable. He and Tahlia are the parents of three year old Darby who has taken to the saddle with great enthusiasm.
Dwayne has helped to develop the talents of a string of top country jockeys. One of them is currently making a name for himself in the Brisbane riding ranks.
Dwayne has no doubt Grafton will be his home base for the rest of his training career.
(Banner image - Dwayne with Tahlia after Kasharn’s win in the 2018 Armidale Cup - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)
Few apprentices get to ride their first winner at Royal Randwick as Dwayne did on Fairy Prince in 1984.
Dwayne looked pretty good on the John Deamer trained Houston Bound at Taree mid 90s.
After a Port Macquarie win on Due Date for Glen Hodge.
An emotional win for Schmidt on Blazing Thoughts at Taree 1995 - his final race ride.
A proud moment for Dwayne after an Ipswich win with Val's Boy. Rider was daughter Cassandra, strapper was daughter Priscilla.
Another Schmidt riding talent! Dwayne with three year old Darby who's astride his faithful pony George.