Briana Edman and Amy Baxter with Sporting Grace after their win. Photo by Northam Harness Racing Club
Friday May 2 at Northam set the scene for a milestone night, with Amy Baxter celebrating her first training success with Sporting Grace taking out race three on the card.
Baxter, who made her training debut this season finally felt that winning feeling on Friday night when five-year-old mare Sporting Grace lead all the way for driver Briana Edman, proving too good for rivals when she won with a comfortable 7m margin over the 1780m trip in the mares race.
Owned by the duo, Baxter took the reins in January this year and although she was yet to place any closer than fourth, punters were confident they would get the job done, with the $2.25 favourite drawing barrier one.
With all the excitement of her first win, Amy Baxter almost missed the opportunity to get a photo after the race.
“It was bloody good, I almost forgot to get a photo.” Baxter remarked.
The milestones didn’t end there, with Donald Harper claiming his 450th driving win on the night.
Paired with Brewery Lane in the standing start event, race five, they started off the 30m handicap but after beginning flawlessly, they sailed to the front, dictating terms and walked away with a convincing win with a 20m margin over the 2560m standing start trip.
450 wins on the board didn’t last long, with Harper driving a double on the card when he prepared Spirited Whitby in race seven to claim win 451.
Spirited Whitby was able to lead all the way, making it two in a row for owners May and David Leitch at just her fourth start in a race.
The three-year-old daughter of Betting Line USA is the first and only foal out of Zetarose Whitby who was sold over the weekend in the 2025 Dr Ed Dewar Estate Sale for $1750.
Junior driver Abbey Vidovich drove a double on the card, taking out race one on board the Jesse Moore trained Goodonya Mate and then race two for Lang Inwood on board Shes A Mare.
It was another great night for junior drivers, with five of the seven races taken out by the concession drivers.
Ajay Markham drove Beyond Bling to victory in race four, giving local trainer Lang Inwood a double on the card.
Race six saw Liam Elliott fly the flag for the juniors once again with The Whizzer coming out on top in a close finish, for trainer Peter Anderson.
