McCarthy backs new drivers' colours concept

By Jordan Gerrans

Leading Queensland export Todd McCarthy has backed the new drivers' colours concept, declaring it will take the harness racing code in the Sunshine State to an entire new level of professionalism.

The bold and exciting new drivers’ colours was launched last Saturday evening at Albion Park and is set to run over a six month trial with some of the best drivers in Queensland wearing their own specially designed colours.

McCarthy has driven in the USA for almost a year now, with drivers’ colours already utilised as participants are instantly recognisable whilst driving at the Meadowlands or Yonkers.

The 27-year-old pushed for drivers to have their own colours in Australia before he made the move and now that he has driven in America for some time believes the concept only makes the sport more professional.

“The number one thing, from my perspective was the professionalism within the product,” he said.

“A tailor-made suit on a driver that matches their helmet and most of the drivers, they use their own sulkies, the colour combination, everything just matches.

“The reputation of everything, it makes the product easier to follow and makes it more professional on television.

“You see some drivers at times, a skinny little guy wearing these big baggy colours, and nothing really matches, that takes away from the professionalism of the product.

“Hopefully it leads to a more professional product for the public in Queensland.”

The son of harness legend John McCarthy, Todd believes wagering on tracks such as Albion Park and Redcliffe will only increase on the back of drivers' colours.

And, it will benefit people that do not come from a racing background, being able to understand and connect with the sport.

He described the colours of drivers' such as Angus Garrard, Brendan Barnes and Matt Elkins, among others, as “eye catching” with people able to pick up on who they are even subconsciously at times.

“It has helped advertising the drivers here in the USA,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the driver is the one on TV and that is the product we are showing people.

“That is what we have to have, something to follow on TV.

“I think punters do follow drivers and it makes it easier for them to people follow races and understand drivers.”

Sky Racing’s Adam Hamilton is among the key supporters of the initiative, having witnessed its success abroad.

“Australians only need to look at American racing where heroes from Down Under Todd McCarthy, Andy McCarthy and Dexter Dunn are highly visible, promoted by driving in every race in their own colours,” Hamilton said.
 
“This is a great initiative that I can’t wait to see.”

Each of the six drivers, Pete McMullen, Kylie Rasmussen, Barnes, Elkins, Garrard and Narissa McMullen have been assigned their own uniform and silks to be worn in every race they are engaged in.

The uniforms were developed in conjunction with each of the drivers and offer a contemporary look and feel to resonate - and engage - with new markets.

The tailored silks, wheels, and helmets will make them readily identifiable critical in today’s racing landscape given the large majority of fans and punters consume racing via TV and digital broadcast.

On a person level, the former leading Australian-based driver McCarthy is thriving in the USA.

He departed in the back end of 2020 and does not look like returning any time soon, with opportunities aplenty at tracks like Yonkers, the Meadowlands and even into Pennsylvania.

McCarthy lives in New Jersey and travels between the tracks, which are all within driving distance.

The harness racing scene in that area of the USA is enormous with McCarthy driving almost every day of the week, including on some occasions driving at two different venues on the same night.

“It is really good prize money, you are always travelling and, on the road, keeping busy, but I am really enjoying it,” he said.

McCarthy had planned to come back to Australia for Christmas but with the lack of flights coming into the country, he opted to remain.

When driving back home, he always dreamed of taking a working holiday to America and is loving that he took the leap.

“It has been a fantastic six months for me over here, I am certainly enjoying myself and glad I have stayed and toughed out the winter,” he said.

“I am really fortunate that when I got here, I got great opportunities and got on some good horses.

“It has snowballed into bigger things for me and I have become a regular driver at these big tracks.

“It has been pretty cool for me and I am hoping to stick around for a bit.”