By Jordan Gerrans
Angus Garrard and Brendan Barnes along with ‘drivers’ colours’ are the next generation of harness racing in Queensland.
They are young, exciting, talented, and are set to lead the industry into their next phase, which despite being a contentious topic for some, is hoped will deliver a fresh, youthful audience for the code of racing.
Six of the leading drivers in the Sunshine State - Pete McMullen, Kylie Rasmussen, Barnes, Matt Elkins, Garrard and Narissa McMullen - will, from Saturday night at Albion Park, don their own colours whenever they drive across Queensland.
Teenager Garrard, one of the up-and-coming drivers in Australia, will be dubbed “The Kid” as part of the promotional campaign that has been developed to support the concept.
Born into the industry, Garrard received the Concession Driver of the Year at the recent 2020 TAB Queensland Harness Awards on top of becoming the youngest driver in Queensland to notch up 100 winners in a single season.
Garrard believes the concept will draw in new audiences to the harness racing game that he loves.
“Hopefully we can get them involved,” Garrard said.
“This will be able to provide people the opportunity to pick up harness racing easier, they will be able to see a driver colours and know who they are like that.
“I believe this will be a really good way to do that.
“We have seen the Big Bash with cricket, they kicked it off and people had questions about that at the time, but it has turned out really well for them.”