Nick Smart is stepping away from training.
Smart confirmed his decision not to renew his training license, telling Racing.com that the financial pressures of maintaining his training business had been difficult to manage.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Smart said.
“It’s been a gradual downturn – financially I’ve been going backwards and the stress that brings with it has taken the enjoyment out of the job.”
Smart did not rule out the possibility of returning to training in the future and indicated that he would probably still stay in the racing game in some capacity at this time … ‘because it is all that I know … it’s what I love.”
Adding to the core personal financial pressure he was under, Smart’s license was already under a review by Racing Victoria as to whether he would be granted a license into the new season.
With that decision from Racing Victoria having no set resolution date, Smart made the choice himself.
“I was the subject of a financial review at the end of last season from Racing Victoria, which was completely understandable, and I knew it was coming for 12 months,” Smart told Racing.com
“I couldn’t just sit idle as we’ve got some horses up and racing and we’ve got some young horses ready to trial,” … indicating that his decision was made in the best interest of the horses who were in his care and of their owners.
Smart’s last runner was Getting Leggie in the Casterton Steeplechase on July 24.
While the ten-year-old couldn’t give him the send off he would have liked, Getting Leggie did leave Smart with at least one wonderful memory … that of winning the Brierly Steeplechase during the 2020 Warrnambool Carnival at odds of $14.
