Candice Gollan embodies a full facet approach to racing, working in stables, strapping at the races and working for Trackside. We caught up with Candice to learn a little more about her journey into the industry and why she does what she does (spoiler alert: it all comes down to the love of the horse).

How did you first get involved in the racing industry?

My paternal grandparents were involved in the breeding and racing industry. Their biggest win as owners/breeders came from the Bernard Dyke-trained Star Harvest when he won the 1991 Auckland Cup with Jim Collett in the saddle. I think this accounts for my love of roughies as he was a 100/1 shot!

However, I didn’t get directly involved in the industry until after I graduated from high school and I was looking for a summer job while I waited for my university classes to start. I ended up staying on in the stables and completing my degrees simultaneously.

What do you enjoy most about strapping at the races?

I love the horses. You won’t find me very far away from the tie ups, even if I am there as a spectator. They are my first and foremost priority, but it is nice to catch up with people you might not see or meet someone you may have not gotten the chance to. The racing industry is small and we should stick together and support one another. Any pre-race rituals/ superstitions? No pre-race photos of the horses. None. Zilch. Nadda. I also try to wear the same colour, if I strapped the horse in a certain colour before and they’ve either won or run well as a form of good luck!

You always dress for the occasion! What's your number one tip for dressing for the races?

Bike shorts under your dresses are your friend!

What is your favourite racing memory to date?

I have so many favourite memories from over the years. I’m going to narrow it down to two! First favourite memory: When I worked for Stephen Marsh, I fell in love with this fiery chestnut Pentire mare called Chiara. She was hard work. I spent hours walking her at races and trials because she had this aversion to tie up stalls. She never got her maiden win but she ran huge placings and the day she won a trial, I was acting like she had just won a G1! She was the perfect example that winning wasn’t everything and I loved her anyway. She taught me a lot being her spicy self. Second favourite memory: Probably the more recent memory would be the Shaun & Emma Clotworthy-trained Three Sixty turning her form around and winning back-to-back races on Derby Day and Auckland Cup Day. The Auckland Cup Day win in the Royal Descent Stakes was a very nerve-wracking wait while they were in the room. Kudos to Shaun for his excellent debating skills. Three Sixty is a very strong mare who has had some luckless runs. It was nice for Shaun & Emma to get the win, as well as part-owner Terry Lines.

Candice and Chiara.

When you're not wearing your strappers hat, you've got your Trackside cap on! Tell us about your role.

I am an Assistant Producer with Trackside. My role is production and running behind the scenes of what you see on Trackside with my team. I’m in charge of producing certain days of the week. It’s about working with a large variety and diverse group of people to deliver the content we all love and that’s racing.

What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the racing industry for the first time?

Be open-minded, don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, expect hard work and most importantly, put the horses first. No matter what’s going on in your personal life, those horses come first. Why do you love racing? The horses. The atmosphere. Seeing horses running at their peak. I also think the love of racing helps keep my paternal grandparents close as they passed away when I was young.