Benalla's Wayne Nichols recognised by Victoria Racing Club with award

By Hamish Donaldson

Jun 12, 2023

Country races are always a highlight on any town’s calendar.

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The opportunity is unmissable.

Dressing up to hopefully bask in spring sun as you cheer the horses and jockeys home hoping desperately that yours will be fist, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.

Those few exhilarating moments as the race runs its course is all that the most of us are privy to but behind the scenes it takes a dedicated trainer’s years to provide us with the end result, a spectacle that brings towns together.

One such trainer being recognised for his contributions to racing in Victoria is Benalla’s own Wayne Nichols who will be awarded the 2023 Country Achiever Award by the Victorian Racing Club at the Country Race Day held at Flemington on Saturday, June 17.

Award recipient: Benalla's Wanye Nichols will be awarded the 2023 Country Achiever Award at the VRC Country Race Day to be held at Flemington on Saturday, June 17. Photo by Hamish Donaldson

The race day will celebrate the important contribution made by country racing participants and their communities.

The Country Achiever Award is presented in conjunction with the Australian Trainers’ Association, Country Racing Victoria and the VRC to a country trainer who has made a lasting contribution on country racing.

Previous winners of this award include Gwenda Johnstone and Austy Coffey.

Nichols is not out of place as he has been training horses for just under 40 years.

“My first runner in a race was a winner in 1984,” said Nichols.

“It’s a bit surprising (winning the award), yeah, humbling in a way, you don’t expect those sorts of things, that’s not what you do your job for but if it happens it happens. It’s an honour, I’m proud of it.

“There’s a new one (challenge) every day. Horses bring up that, you learn to expect the unexpected. It can be very challenging the whole way through.

“Getting a horse from the start, a young horse out of the paddock that’s never been ridden and taking it through and seeing it win a really good race. That’s a pretty satisfying journey.”

Hard at work: Wayne Nichols talks to jockey Emma before she heads out on track. Photo by Hamish Donaldson

Along with the award, Nichols will be recognised on the day with a race named after him.

Living Legend’s Pakistan Star and Redkirk Warrior will be special equine guests on the day where racegoers can visit them in the stalls or watch them parade in the mounting yard after races 2 and 4.

Eagle eyed: Wayne Nichols watches on as his horses are out on track. Photo by Hamish Donaldson

The VRC will offer free entry to members of any country racing clubs. They will have the opportunity to attend Members Enclosure areas by showing their country race day membership pass at the members services window upon entry.

The Kids Corner in the Atrium will be a popular haven for VRC members and their families with various games, a reading corner and colouring-in stations for younger racegoers to enjoy.