Concession driver Ryan Backhouse made the most of a trip back to Tasmania over the weekend, driving in Burnie on Friday night and landing a driving double in Hobart on Sunday afternoon.
The Tasmanian-born driver, who won the last ever harness race held at the Devonport Showgrounds in 2022, has been based in Western Victoria with the Aaron Dunn stable for just over the past three years.
He took the chance to return home and visit family and friends this weekend when an opportunity arose to drive for the Tammy Langley stable, as her regular drivers, Dylan and Tarn Ford, were both unavailable.
“Tarn let me know earlier in the week that she was off on a holiday, and Dylan was suspended, so I thought I would come back and give it a go, and see the family,” said Backhouse.
His Hobart double included the win of Ray Dan in the Lather Up at Woodlands Stud Pace (1609m), with the four-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding stopping the clock in 1:55.3s, only 1.7s outside the track record.
Ray Dan ($9.50) was one-out and one-back before being let down three-wide at the 600m, and he raced away from his rivals to score by 25.6m from Mr Bondi ($5) and Imperial Laz ($2.40 fav).
“I thought he was the best horse in the race, it was just if he could get around the last corner, as he can hang in a bit,” said the driver.
“Dylan said he drove him upside down last start, and that he is better with a sit, and when the speed was on, and I was in the one-one, I was confident.
“He goes better over the mile. He has good ability, but he still does a few things wrong.”
The Backhouse-Langley combination made it a race-to-race double, with Ashante Queen ($4.40) claiming the TTC Life Members Pace (1609m).
After racing wide early, the six-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou pressed on to find the lead at the 1100m, and was too slick for her rivals in the straight to score by 7.5m from Debt Till We Part ($15) and Moneys No Issue ($7.00) in 1:57.3s.
“I think she likes it in front like that, bowling along, and she finished off good,” the driver said.
Backhouse finished fourth in last season’s Victorian Concession Drivers Premiership, and this season he is eighth, with nine winners in that state for the season.
“Things have been ticking over well, and everything is going alright at the moment.”
He will return to Victoria on Monday and will compete at Ballarat on Thursday night and Mildura on Friday.
Meanwhile, Tasmanian harness racing fans won’t have to wait long for the next meeting in the state, with Hobart racing again on Wednesday afternoon, taking advantage of an available slot on Sky Racing 1.
Fields for the meeting will be available on Monday afternoon.
