Gary Clem happy as a hobby trainer

By Glenn Davis

For a hobby trainer, Gary Clem has a record to admire.

The 60-year-old is a Bundaberg diehard and has worked for Bundaberg Sugar for more than three decades while dabbling in training.

His season statistics reveal he has had 25 starters for five wins and 10 placings for a 20% strike-rate.

It is not a bad effort for a person who works six days a week for the sugar company while preparing a team of five horses.

“I started off as an apprentice jockey and rode 17 winners in my first six months before I got too heavy,” Clem said.

“They were all around the Bundaberg district, but I got too heavy, so I gave it away when I was only 19 and started training not long after.”

Clem has been training for around four decades and prepared former cult hero King Klaus who travelled to all parts of Queensland before finishing his career with 16 wins and 10 placings and almost $320,000 in prizemoney.

Despite his success as a hobby trainer, Clem has no immediate plans to train full-time.

“I’ve only got five in work but to train full-time I’d need a dozen horses,” he said.

“And, I’d have to give up my day job with Bundy Sugar.

“I’m happy with the way things are now, working six days a week at Bundy Sugar as my boss is great and gives me Saturdays off whenever I’ve got a runner.”

Clem will make the trip from Bundaberg to Gladstone on Saturday to saddle one runner, Corkscrew, in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

Corkscrew is eligible for much weaker company after winning only three races in his 25-start career.

The seven-year-old is coming off a last start second to the Raymond Williams-trained Mississippi Morn in a 1075 metre Open Handicap at Thangool on March 2.

“I would have preferred it to be longer than 1000 metres and he was beaten by a better horse on the day at Thangool,” Clem said.

“He’s been racing in Open company because I haven’t been able to find a suitable race for him.

“He can’t stay in the stable all the time so he might as well race.”

While Clem has been loyal to his employers over many years, he shows the same loyalty when booking jockeys.

“Corkscrew has been ridden by Adam Spinks at his past two starts and he’s riding him again,” Clem said.

“Adam has been loyal to me for a long time, so I like to be loyal back. He’s always got a smile on his face and he’s riding well.”