Inglis proudly bring you:
Danni Schreck – A Rare “Double”
By John Curtis
A school counsellor five days a week and racehorse trainer seven days a week.
It’s a rather unusual mix for sure, but DANNI SCHRECK somehow manages to do both.
And, most importantly, she gets tremendous satisfaction from each.
Whilst she has been involved in her main role for many a year, the latter has arisen for the Inverell woman only in the last 18 months.
Danni Schreck Photo: Inverell Jockey Club
But it is something she has certainly wanted do for quite a while.
“I have always loved horses,” Schreck said. “My family had stock horses, and I did the pony club scene growing up.
“I was never going to be a Malcolm Johnston riding in races though. I was too tall and too fat,” she quipped, underlining her great sense of humour.
Unfortunately, a “bad stack” as Schreck bluntly described it, cooled her interest for a period.
“I broke a few ribs, etc and my horse died,” she explained.
“Losing my horse was so sad, and I guess it took time to get over everything.”
Getting involved with a local syndicate had much to do with lighting the fire for her to eventually take out her training licence.
“That was around seven or eight years ago,” Schreck. “Because I loved racing, I made up my mind to become involved.
“I got right into it, and took out a strapper’s licence.
“Helping out a former local trainer working as a strapper and looking after the syndicate’s horses was a terrific experience.
“Getting that experience convinced me that I wanted to have a go at this (training horses).”
Schreck married Queensland jockey Scott Sweedman three years ago and, of course, the reception was held at Inverell Jockey Club.
“It’s not true that I married Scott so that I had a rider for my horses,” she laughed.
“I love the fact we can so this together.
“I get up early to tend to the horses, then leave a list of things which need to be done when I head off for my 8 to 5 job.
“My role as school counsellor also involves co-ordinating what is required in our region, and I really love what I do.”
School counsellors provide psychological counselling, assessment and intervention services, working with students of all ages and their families, from pre-Kindergarten to Year 12.
They need to be empathetic listeners who have the ability to make students feel comfortable and at ease.
A school counsellor also has to be an excellent verbal communicator – and that quality was clearly evident in our chat.
No doubt those brilliant communication skills also assist Schreck look after her horses.
“We have a property just outside Inverell, with an 800m track,” she said. “The horses are happy; they go out in big yards during the day and are stabled at night.”
Schreck had her first runner just over 12 months ago – and it wasn’t an auspicious debut!
Teyssier, a $71 outsider, showed pace but faded to finish last in a field of eight in a Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m) at Glen Innes on January 9.
The now seven-year-old gelding had three more starts before being retired.
Two races after Teyssier’s defeat, Schreck saddled another roughie, $31 chance Ishkabibble, who finished second (beaten just under a length) in a 1400m Maiden Handicap.
That elusive victory came on her home track a couple of months later on March 20 – but not with her husband as the jockey.
Schreck took advantage of apprentice Jacob Golden’s 3kg claim to land the Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with $2.40 favorite Frivolosophy, a Tavistock mare who began her career in Melbourne and whom she purchased online for $5500.
“Hubby” rode stablemate Sassy Sarah ($6.50), who tailed the nine-horse field home.
Schreck had to wait another nine months before celebrating her next winner, again on home ground – and this time the couple was in complete harmony!
Eight-year-old grey gelding Supreme Harmony, with Scott Sweedman aboard, greeted the judge first in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) on Boxing Day.
“It was a big thrill as both our families were there,” Schreck said. “I’m sure we had the biggest cheer squad in the Hunter and North-West.”
Schreck currently has five horses in work, with three in the paddock.
She is the niece of one of Australian racing’s best-known personalities, the highly respected former chief steward John Schreck.
“The Sheriff”, chairman of the then Australian Turf Club stewards’ panel, was called upon to clean up the mess left by Brisbane’s infamous Fine Cotton ring-in scandal at Eagle Farm in August, 1984 – and do so in his typically exemplary manner.
Now living a quieter life in Sydney, John Schreck is supporting his niece in her new venture.
“I speak with Uncle John every couple of weeks, and he has taken shares in a couple of our horses, Kensington Avenue and Wandjinapine, and is always interested in how they are going,” Danni Schreck said.
“So far we haven’t been able to win a race for him. I’ve put him in the slow ones,” she joked, that wonderful sense of humour shining through again.
