Guest Speaker Dianne Davies – Women in Harness Racing

As a horse-mad 13 year old, Dianne began her lifelong love of horses.
She described working for local trainer Bill Davies, whom she eventually married. When 18, Dianne became one of the first female trainer licensees and after some successful trials, won some Exhibition races at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

In 1974 Dianne was influential in setting up the Reinswomen’s Association which eventually persuaded the Victoria Trotting Board to allow women drivers in open races.
Bill and Dianne moved to Macaw, in China, and were influential in developing a large harness racing industry.
Returning to Victoria, they both took over the Clunes PO and set up a farm at Red Lion.

A 20 year stint teaching at Bendigo TAFE helped develop the local horse industry still further.

Dianne even served on the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
Her saddlery shop at Carisbrook continues her life-long involvement in the Victorian Harness Racing industry.