CLENTON’S FOUR “WINNERS” LIKE OLD TIMES

THE question was asked – but didn’t really need to be!

Former successful jockey Sam Clenton gave a straight forward response as to what was easiest; riding or races or being a jockey’s manager.

“You know the answer to that,” she said today.

“The manager side of it is great when your jockeys are riding winners.”

But she quickly pointed out it’s not always all beer and skittles.

“When things aren’t going well, then that’s what makes the job really hard,” she said.

“I don’t like that part of it all.

“That’s why you have to enjoy the good days when they come along.”

Thankfully, yesterday was one of those ‘good days”.

Doubles to senior jockey Christian Reith and mature age apprentice Liberty Smyth indeed helped make up for the ordinary days.

Reith was successful at Wyong on leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Tenenbaum ($5) and Olivia Twist ($9), whilst Smyth scored at the Port Macquarie meeting on Wyong pair Posh Annie ($4.20) and Blue Dane ($19).

Posh Annie is trained by Mark Howard, and Shaun Harvey prepares Blue Dane.

“Liberty is an experienced horsewoman, and only recently began riding in races,” Clenton said.

“She definitely has ability, and that was her first double.”

Smyth is apprenticed to Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, and his other apprentice Shannen Llewellyn also was successful at Port Macquarie.

She scored on Grand Voile ($3.30) for Kris Lees and El Beatle ($12) for Cessnock-based Jeremy Sylvester.

Injuries from race falls forced Clenton to call time on her riding career, and took on managing rides for jockeys a couple of years ago, with experienced Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons becoming her first client.

She rode 356 wnners, including 89 in the 2019-20 season, and was the State’s leading apprentice in 2015-16 with 81 winners.

Her first black type victory was on Howmuchdoyouloveme in the Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in November 2015, and she also won the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on him early the following year.

Along with Gibbons, Reith and Smyth, Clenton has apprentice Ella Drew on her books, but unfortunately the young jockey is sidelined for an indefinite period as a result of a fall at the Gunnedah meeting on March 7.

Legendary Gosford trainer Albert Stapleford has passed away.

Stapleford, who would have been 96 in May, trained for more than seven decades and prepared 501 winners.

Fittingly, his last winner was at his home track (Dissenter) on February 2, 2023.

He had successfully brought the mare back from a 2600m victory, also at Gosford, a week earlier.

Stapleford decided not to renew his licence at the end of the 2022-23 racing season, and was feted by Gosford Race Club to mark his retirement and acknowledge his magnificent contribution to the industry.

The club had a commemorative racebook printed, and presented him with a montage of photos and stories.

Born in Phar Lap’s year (1930), Stapleford grew up at Millfield, near Cessnock in the Lower Hunter Valley.

After a brief stint as an apprentice jockey in Sydney, he returned home and started his training career at 17 years of age, winning with his first starter Renmark at Muswellbrook.

ProvincialRacingNSW extends its deepest sympathies to Albert’s family and friends on the passing of a remarkable man.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 29, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS