GOSFORD TRAINERS’ TITLE DECIDED ON A COUNTBACK

GOSFORD Race Club has been forced to call on a countback to decide the outcome of last season’s trainers’ premiership.

No less than four trainers – Sydney’s Chris Waller and Matthew Smith, Hawkesbury’s Brad Widdup and Wyong’s Nacim Dilmi – each trained seven winners during the 2025-26 racing season, which concluded at the end of last month.

“Almost certainly this has never happened before here,” Gosford chief executive Daniel Lacey said today.

“Providing four trophies would not have been feasible, so we did a countback of seconds and Chris Waller had the most (four) and has been declared the winner.

“Chris was happy when advised he had won the premiership and told us it was a pleasure to race horses at Gosford.

“The upgrades to the track have been a success,” he continued.

“It is a good surface to race on, horses race well there and they recover well, which is equally as important.

“Gosford continues to go ahead and be an important part of our racing scene.”

There was also a dead-heat for the apprentices’ premiership between Mollie Fitzgerald (pictured) and Mitch Stapleford – and the club has decided to declare joint winners.

“I’m sure the apprentices will each value getting a trophy, and obviously there is a lot of local pride with Mitch being a joint winner because of the Stapleford name here,” Lacey said.

Mitch Stapleford is a grandson of the legendary late Gosford trainer Albert Stapleford, who passed away in March at 95 years of age after a seven-decade career which produced more than 500 winners.

Zac Lloyd won the jockeys’ premiership with 11 wins, two ahead of Tommy Berry.

Gosford is planning to present the premiership trophies to the various winners at its next meeting on Friday, August 28.

“It’s the right time as we don’t race again until October,” Lacey said.

“This gives us the opportunity to undertake further renovation work on the course proper.

“We did a really big renovation last year and, whilst that won’t be the case this time, sand slitting will take place to further improve the track’s drainage.

“Once that is completed, we will be looking forward to a busy spring and summer.”

Lacey says the “new” course proper, now two years old, has settled in well and punters are showing their confidence in the track.

“TAB turnover has definitely shown an increase on Gosford meetings.

“That of course is most encouraging, and our aim now is to try to improve our average field sizes.”

Michael Griffiths has stepped down both as vice-chairman and from Gosford’s Board of Directors.

“Michael tendered his resignation after the last Board meeting, having given lengthy service to the club,” Lacey said.

“The Board will discuss appointing a new vice-chairman at its next meeting this month, and has the power to also appoint a member to the Board to replace Michael.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 7, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS