THE Young family name is synonymous with the pacing industry and it looks as though it will stay that way with the next generation taking up the reins.
Maddy (21) and Jocelyn Young (22) have been finding their feet in the pacing world for the past six to 12 months with the wins now starting to come.
Pacing runs through the girls’ veins with their father Kim Young a well known driver and trainer and their mother Margaret the daughter of pacing identity Ray Grantham.
This week was a good week for the family with Jocelyn having success in Narrogin on Thursday with Royal Myth before Maddy tasted victory with Sheckler in Kalgoorlie on Friday.
Kim also had success on Friday night at Gloucester Park with Heez Speedy Gonzalez to round out the family success.
Although the pair now love driving, Jocelyn having held the reins for 12 months and Maddy for six month due to a broken arm, Maddy said she didn’t always envision her self in the cart.
“I always thought I would be too scared,” she said.
“One day Jocelyn said she was going to go for her [pacing drivers] license and I thought I would too.” Jocelyn said she had always thought she would give it ago with timing the main issue.
“The family has always done it,” she said.
“I did pony trots and enjoyed that so the thought was always there but it was just a matter of timing; I went to TAFE before hand.”
Margaret said the girls had spent their whole lives around horses.
“It is in their blood and bones,” she said.
“They get great support from the other drivers and trainers which is wonderful.”
Now with several wins to their names the decision to pursue pacing seems to be paying off.
“I used to get so nervous [before a race],” Maddy said.
“I would make sure I knew how many laps there were.”
After winning her first race three weeks ago Maddy said it was a great feeling. Jocelyn said she felt more relief after winning for the first time.
“The boss was expecting me to win so there was relief but it was also exciting.”
It was a big weekend in pacing for a number of local drivers and trainers kicking off at Gloucester Park on Friday.
Serpentine driver Gary Hall junior enjoyed a hat trick of wins starting with Ideal Alice and Machtu for his father Gary senior before winning with Soho Monza.
Pinjarra’s Chris Voak had success with the Michael Brennan-trained Frith while Colin Brown trained and drove Flaming Hero to victory at the same meet.
At Pinjarra on Monday Brown again tasted victory this time with Franco Rayner, a pacer he also trains.
Others to win included Kiara Davies with Stellar Kamwood, Morgan Woodley with Vultan and Clinton Hall with Nuala.
