Hannah Anforth's readymade path into the driving ranks

By Jordan Gerrans

With harness racing lineage on both sides of her family, Hannah Anforth’s path into the code was established at a young age.

The 16-year-old has lived and breathed the sport from a young age and recently finished her school studies to focus on harness racing on a full-time basis.

Hannah took her maiden drives in the early stages of her career at Redcliffe last Thursday before also driving at Albion Park and Marburg in the days after.

The daughter of Mt Berryman-based trainer Daniel Anforth is yet to snare a winner in her first engagements on race day and she is hopeful her maiden victory could come for her father at ‘The Triangle’ on Wednesday evening.

Hannah is a fourth generation harness participant on her father’s side with Daniel’s father and grandfather involved in the sport.

On Hannah’s mother's side of the family, her grandfather Campbell McPhee was also a trainer.

Her father Daniel says she was always keen on the sport with a pony at eight years of age and often heading to the races from a young age.

“She pretty much had no chance and had to go this way,” Daniel said with a laugh.

“I could not see her doing anything else, we are all so proud of her. Campbell was a very good trainer and trained a lot of winners.”

Hannah progressed through the mini trotting ranks in the Sunshine State, qualifying to compete at the mini Inter Dominion a couple of years ago at Melton.

Hannah was recognised at the 2022 Queensland Harness Awards for her efforts at Albion Park as part of the mini trotters.

“She has worked her way through the mini trotters before going to help Dannielle Veivers and Ryan on the weekends,” Daniel said.

“When the opportunity came to go full-time into it and finish up school, her confidence and everything the last 12 months, she has really come along.

“She loves it being up early in the morning to do the horses.”

Hannah has recently started a full-time job with South East Queensland horseman Ben Battle.

Battle gave the junior driver her two maiden race day appearances last Thursday on the Peninsula.

Hannah counts Battle and fellow reinswoman Jordan Topping as mentors as she develops as a driver.

“Ben is very good to work for, he teaches me a lot,” Hannah said.

“He always sits down with me after a drive and tells me how I can do better.

“He is great to work for and his horses always look and go good.”

Hannah had first drive for her father at Marburg on Sunday behind Trustfull.

The father-and-daughter team went close to grabbing a victory but Trustfull went down by a head.

The Anforths combine again on race day with Convair Hustler on Wednesday over 1780 metres.

Hannah has her fingers crossed the veteran bay gelding can become her breakthrough victory as a reinswoman.

“I would like to hope so, it would be good to get my first winner for Dad,” the teenage driver said.

“He goes pretty good, he is just an old horse.

“I think he can go alright when he likes to. The second row draw is a tough one but it might suit him a bit better.”

Daniel trains a team of four horses.

“Hannah works them every day and it is good to see them go good for her,” Daniel said.

“Ben is great and he is teaching her heaps, she really enjoys going over there Ben’s horses are flying at the moment.”