Camden Haven race horse trainer and owner Jan Tate has taken a step back from the track in retirement to enjoy the slower things in life - watching her garden flourish.
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The 87-year-old great-great grandmother is the matriarch of Tate family in Laurieton.
Mrs Tate, alongside her husband Kelly, spent more than half a century with horses earning their stripes as Mid North Coast racing royalty.
The pair have been racing and training horses for more than 50 years, a passion which flows down to their children.
They have three children, Jennifer, Robert and Neil, seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
"We had our first race horse about 50 years ago called Sea Emperor. Since then we've been lucky enough to have some pretty good horses over the years, we've been pretty fortunate," Mrs Tate said.
"Having the animals around the family is just so special and being involved in racing just evolved from having ponies as a kid.
"There are, of course, favourites such as Glitra who won the Coffs Harbour Cup in 2018 and we have a very good horse at the moment called Patriot.
"I do watch the Melbourne Cup and those bigger city races, but my ambitions are not like that and we just went to the local race meets. Everyone knows each other and they are a lovely afternoon out."
Mrs Tate said five of her grandchildren are now dipping their feet into the world of racing.
"The Camden Haven is such as great place for kids to grow up in and being involved in regional racing is just a different way to live than in the city."
The training of the race horses is now managed by Port Macquarie trainer John Sprague, while Mrs Tate spends her spare time building an extensive tropical garden in Laurieton.
"I garden every day and all day. I enjoy tropical plants and I have gardens all around me," she said.
"I'm a self taught gardener and use my experience from running the Diamond Waters Nursery in Dunbogan, which we owned for 30 years and sold in 2002."
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Robert Dougherty
Port Macquarie News/Camden Haven Courier journalist. Have a story to share? contact me at rob.dougherty@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Port Macquarie News/Camden Haven Courier journalist. Have a story to share? contact me at rob.dougherty@austcommunitymedia.com.au
