The spirit of competition and remembrance came together on Friday, April 11, as Young Harness Racing Club hosted the second and final heat of the 2025 Nic Dewar Memorial Series. With fierce competition and strong community support, the event was a fitting tribute to the late Nic Dewar and a celebration of the sport’s emerging young talent.
In a thrilling finish to the series, it was Full of Spice, driven by Jimmy Locke and trained by Michael Hardy, who crossed the line first, just holding off a strong challenge from stablemate Im Belieber, steered by Jett Turnbull. The one-two finish cemented a dominant performance from the New South Wales contingent, who also took out the trifecta in Young, following a quinella in the first heat at Shepparton.
With a win in the second heat and a second place finish in the Shepparton round, Jimmy Locke was crowned the 2025 Winning Driver of the series a well deserved accolade for the talented young reinsman from the Canberra region.
Scott Adamas, Secretary of Young Harness Racing, reflected on the significance of the event. “Nic actually had a car accident on his way back from Shepparton in 2017 and sadly, passed away. Ever since then, we’ve held this memorial series for junior drivers in his honour,” Adamas explained. “It’s just for concession drivers under 23. It gives them a real chance to showcase their skills in a supportive environment.”
The Nic Dewar Memorial Series features one round of heats at Shepparton and another in Young, with drivers and horses allocated by their trainers. The races are known for drawing crowds, with fans and families showing up in numbers to support the up and coming drivers.
“It’s always well received,” said Adamas. “There’s always a few extra people who come to the trots to see these heats, and all the drivers love getting a callup.”
With experienced juniors and strong support crews from both Victoria and NSW, the event continues to grow each year. Young Harness Racing thanks all drivers, trainers, and supporters who made the journey and helped keep Nic’s memory alive through this meaningful and exciting series.
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