Taleah McMullen grabs bragging rights over her family

By Jordan Gerrans

As of the youngest of the clan competing in the inaugural John and Beryl Dawson Legacy Pace, Queensland driver Taleah McMullen had no doubt in her mind who her beloved Grandma was cheering for.

The 21-year-old reinswoman has the bragging rights over her siblings and cousins for the next year at least after claiming the first ever running of the race to honour her grandparents influence on the harness racing industry in the Sunshine State.

Now into her late 80s, Beryl watched on proudly as the first running of the John and Beryl Legacy Pace was held last week at Albion Park, with the race featuring only drivers from the Dawson and McMullen families and their partners.

The feature event honoured the 20-year anniversary of John’s passing and to recognise the influence John and Beryl have on today’s harness racing industry.

The youngest in the sulky – Taleah – took out the first running of the race, leading throughout behind the Donny Smith-trained Stormtide.

A few days on from the sentimental triumph, Taleah was still smiling from ear to ear about the result.

“It was a great thrill, it is always good to get out there with my siblings and to be able to beat them,´ Taleah said.

“To have a race full of my family and to be able to beat them all as the youngster, it was exciting and a great thrill.

“I did not give them too much banter, I think just beating them was enough as I did not want to stir the pot too much (laughs).

“I do not know that my siblings and cousins would have liked that the youngest won, but I think Grandma might have been secretly cheering for me, as well.”

To celebrate the special occasion, Albion Park was packed with family members from the Dawson and McMullen clan.

Huddled around Beryl, all the family came together for a photo to mark the milestone following the race.

“It is funny when you are out there in a race like that and realise how much family you actually do have in the industry,” Taleah said.

“And, quite a few of us are up there as leading drivers in Queensland.

“It is a bit odd and different – there is not a lot of sports where the entire family are involved like we are.

“We are all out there and we all love it.

“I think it shows how much of a family oriented sport harness racing is and how much we love the horses and the racing.”