The floodlights of Tabcorp Park Menangle cut through the crisp New South Wales evening, illuminating the track below. For most, it was just another Saturday night of harness racing. But in the sulky of Miki Cohen, a young reinsman named Cameron Hart felt the familiar thrill. His heart beat a steady rhythm, a drumroll for the history he was about to make.
He didn’t know it then. He was just focused, as always, on the race. Miki Cohen, a horse owned by Mick Boots and trained by Jason Grimson, was a powerful pacer. Hart guided him with a quiet confidence, working him to the front. From that moment, the race was a foregone conclusion. “Shut the gate,” as they say in racing, and Hart did just that, leaving the opposition in his dust. It was the first of the night, and it felt good. The victory set a tone. Race after race, Hart entered the sulky, and race after race, he found his way to the winner’s circle. He drove with an almost telepathic connection to the horses, particularly those trained by Grimson. Next came Our Sweet Delight, a three-year-old colt with a promising future. The horse had been impressive in his last start, and under Hart’s hands, he was even more so, delivering another commanding performance.
Then came Tuapeka Lou. This horse had already won his last three races, and with Hart at the reins, he made it four in a row. The crowd was starting to buzz. Three wins, all for Jason Grimson, all with Hart at the helm, and all with the same masterful front-running strategy. It was a clinic in control and precision.
But the night wasn’t over. The best was yet to come.
Hart’s next win came with a horse trained by his cousin, Chris Judd.
The horse, Alta William, was a model of consistency, and Hart gave him a faultless drive, leading from the front once again. It was another victory, another show of his indomitable style, but more than that, it was a family affair.
Jason Grimson was not to be outdone. He sent out Himynameisjeff, an eight-year-old gelding, and Hart once again worked his way to the lead.
The horse just kept on going, seemingly tireless, and crossed the finish line for another effortless win. By now, the whispers had turned into a roar. Five wins. The record books were being pulled off the shelves, their pages flipped through to see if anyone had ever done this before.
As he prepared for his final drive of the night on Our Sadie Kay, Hart felt a mix of exhilaration and focus. This horse, trained by Darren Binskin, was an underdog, a trailhorse behind the hot favourite, The Answer.
As they thundered down the home straight, Hart saw his chance. He moved Our Sadie Kay out, issuing a challenge, but the favourite shifted, impeding their run. The crowd gasped. The race was over, but the story was not. Hart protested. He hated them, didn’t enjoy the confrontation, but it was part of the game.
“We are racing 500kg animals and things can go wrong sometimes,” he would later say, his usual laid-back demeanour evident even in the midst of a historic night. The stewards reviewed the footage, and the decision was swift. The protest was upheld. Our Sadie Kay was awarded the win, and Cameron Hart had done it. Six wins. A new record at Sydney’s premier venue.
Following the race, Hart was his usual modest self, a quiet contrast to the storm of cheers and excitement he had created.
“It’s pretty crazy, I wouldn’t have thought that I would have had a record with that,” he said, the genuine surprise in his voice clear.
“There’s a lot of dominant reinsmen at Menangle, but it’s definitely a big thrill to get six tonight.” He was quick to share the credit. “It’s been six winners with three different trainers,” he noted, “and all three have been big supporters of mine week in, week out.” He spoke with particular gratitude for Darren Binskin, a mentor since he moved to the area.
“DJ has been great for my career,” he said. “He’s always been someone I can go to for advice.”
The achievement was more than just a number; it was a testament to his talent, his hardwork, and the trust he had built with trainers and owners.
With this performance, Cameron Hart had not only etched his name into the record books, but he had also pulled well clear in both the Metropolitan and State drivers’ premierships, titles that now looked his for the taking. For a great reinsman who maintained such a modest and unassuming demeanour, it was a truly wonderful achievement, a night when he let his driving do all the talking.
– Tully Potts
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