Benalla trainer Wayne Nichols recognised by Victoria Racing Club

By Hamish Donaldson

Jun 20, 2023

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

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

Those few exhilarating moments as the race runs its course is all that 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 recognised for his contribution to racing is Benalla’s Wayne Nichols who was awarded the 2023 Country Achiever Award by the Victorian Racing Club at the weekend.

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 to country racing.

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

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

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

“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.”