Mother and daughter during Danielle’s race riding days.
Donna was at Albury airport waiting to board a Melbourne bound flight when we tracked her down last Friday. She found herself a quiet corner and was happy to join us on the podcast. The experienced horsewoman was literally thrust into the training business when her husband Brett died suddenly in 2008. Before commencing her solo career Donna opted for a year with the huge Darley operation and has never regretted the decision. Today she trains a 25 horse team from the Albury racecourse precinct, and maintains a very good strike rate. Donna talks about a good recent run of winners with special mention of the promising One Hard Lady.
She takes us back to childhood days on the family farm where she was riding ponies from a tender age.
Donna talks of her father Graham Hulm who schooled her in the art of horse breaking.
She recalls learning the finer points of thoroughbred management from respected local trainer Ron Stubbs.
It was at the Stubbs Albury stable where Donna met her future husband Brett Scott. She talks of Brett’s achievements as a jockey in the southern districts and his transition into the training ranks.
Donna and Brett became the proud parents of Brett Jnr and Danielle. She pays tribute to the kids and talks of the four grandchildren who’ve come along in recent years.
She looks back on the trauma created by Brett’s passing and the small team of horses she inherited.
Donna will never forget the magical first win just two months after her husband’s passing.
Before getting too serious about a solo training career she opted for a stint with a major Sydney stable. She landed a job with the huge Darley operation and Danielle went with her.
Donna talks of Danielle’s brief stint as a jockey.
She speaks highly of Danielle’s partner Blaike McDougall, a jockey of great talent and a NSW premiership winner in 2020/2021.
Donna acknowledges the support of longtime stable foreperson Madi Connell and apprentices Amy O’Driscoll and Robert Wilcox.
The trainer makes special mention of Lord Von Costa, a family favourite who had a few trainers during his racing career. She got him very late but managed to win a stakes race at Flemington.
Donna had a lot of time for a mare called Bennelong Dancer who made her presence felt in two editions of the Country Championship.
She pays a special tribute to one of her all time favourites Our Last Cash.
Donna was thrilled to win a race at Caulfield with Takissacod.
She talks about another favourite Villasaurus - the horse to break her TAB Highway “duck”.
The trainer makes mention of Bautista, another of her Country Championship Final runners.
Donna talks about an early phobia she had regarding Sydney tracks.
She talks of the family farm Hazel Park named after a very special grandmother.
Donna talks of the trusty stable truck that gives her total independence in getting horses to the races.
(Banner image - Our Last Cash (Craig Williams) beats Cause For Concern (Ben Allen) at Flemington 16/09/2023 - courtesy Racing Photos.
Donna closely watches Our Last Cash as the gelding returns to scale at Flemington - courtesy Racing Photos.
Donna breaks her TAB Highway “duck” with Villasaurus (Tyler Schiller) at Rosehill on Golden Eagle day last year - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The smile said it all after Donna’s 100th win as a trainer at Corowa 2022 - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.
Gusonic (Tim Clark) gives Donna her first win on a Sydney track - Kensington June 2022 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.