AS THE 2014 pacing season comes to a close many young drivers have shone brightly, but none more so than Michael Grantham.
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Grantham made the transition from jockey to harness driver with the move beginning to pay off.
No longer having to punish his frame with constant weight watching, Grantham is reaping the benefits of turning his hands to another set of reigns.
After 97 wins in a 16-month career as a jockey, the young man was always destined to be involved with horses.
Grantham spent his formative years in and around the stables and was granted a jockey’s licence at 15.
Grantham said he “struggled big time with his weight” on a daily basis and became tired of the constant cardio, boxing and running.
As a jockey he became the punters pal, he headed the Perth Apprentices Premiership when his increasing battle with weight became too much.
He put aside his saddle and contemplated a move into the world of pacing.
Now almost two seasons later, Grantham’s move to pacing has not always been an easy one.
The adaptation from crouching high on the horses back to handling the reins from the cart took some time and many trial drives to master.
With the advice and assistance from harness identities Trevor Warwick, Colin Brown and his uncle Michael Brennan, the move has begun to pay off.
The move was made worth it when in March this year he saluted with Deflector at Northam and backed it up at Bridgetown with a win behind Director Whitby.
When not in the cart on trial and race days, Grantham assists his father Mark with his horse transport trucking business where he gets the opportunity to keep an eye on harness meetings and opposition drivers as he journeys around the state.
Grathams partner, Maddison Brown is another young driver finding her feet.
After taking some time to hit her straps Brown has driven winners at Kellerberrin, Pinjarra and The Central Wheatbelt in recent weeks.
The success of the younger drivers continued on Saturday with Michael Ferguson saluting with a double driving success at Bunbury.
Ferguson is still in the process of finishing school but has a bright future in the sport. Pacing will continue at Pinjarra on Monday.
