newman

Harold Park Function Centre | Miracle Mile | Menangle Markets

HAROLD PARK LEGENDS

K.B. NEWMAN
Born in Western Australia, Kevin Newman arrived in Sydney in 1951, two years after night trotting was introduced at Harold Park, as a 17-year-old weighing about seven stone wringing wet.

Even at this early age, the determination and drive that took him to the top of his profession was clearly evident.

Newman came over from the West accompanying a team of horses prepared by leading WA trainer Stan Woodworth, but the quartet failed to win in Sydney.

Woodworth then took his team to Adelaide for the 1951 Jubilee Cup meetings, but when Woodworth decided to return home to Perth, Newman decided to head back to Sydney to join the stables of well-known trainer-driver, Bill Picken, before branching out on his own.

Newman, who obtained his driving licence in Perth at the age of 16, drove his first winner behind Black Lassie at Katoomba, with his first success at Harold Park coming behind Shandy Prince on May 17, 1958.

He went on to win the Harold Park Driving Premiership a record eight times (the first in 1966-67 and the last in 1976-77), and the Harold Park Training Premiership 10 times (the first in 1966-67 and the final one in 1978-79).

Newman topped the century mark twice as a reinsman, driving 125 winners in 1971-72 and 104 in 1973-74.

Newman represented Australia twice in the World Driving Championship in the US and Canada – finishing fourth behind Herve Filion, George Sholty and Stanley Dancer in 1970, and sixth behind the New Zealander Kevin Holmes in 1978.

Kevin Newman took his tally of Harold Park winners to 500 1/2, joining Perc Hall as the only reinsmen to reach this figure at Harold Park, when he was successful behind Another Ricki on October 19, 1979. Newman then broke Hall's record by winning the second race that night behind Radical.

Retiring from the driving ranks in the early 1980s, Kevin Newman can claim victories in almost every major race at Harold Park, including two Miracle Mile victories behind Halwes (1968) and Friendly Footman (1981).

Other top performers Newman was associated with in feature race wins at Harold Park during his long and distinguished career include Koala Lawn, Koala Frost, Sporting Champ, Tongue Twister, Medea's Command, Tanya Hanover, Adios Victor, Mitchell Victory, Apollo Eleven, Markovina, Armbro Jodie, Shy Castle, John Oliver, Bright Circle, Gentle Miss, Saucy Wave, Karamea Bob and Al's Holiday.