Most 77-year-olds play bowls or golf to keep active. Not Jim Castles. He is still working at his passion, training and driving horses, and was a winner behind Jaccka Turk at Menangle on Tuesday.
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His latest victory coincided with the 53rd anniversary of his marriage to Monica, who is an important part of the set at Oakfield property.
"I only have a couple of horses these days, but I drive the work on my track," Jim said. "Monica feeds them, it is something we have always done.
"I started driving when I was 16 and I'm still doing it, and we get the odd bit of luck. I can't imagine not having a horse or two, it keeps me going."
Jaccka Turk's win came after a lay-off after he had cracked a pastern. Castles is hoping to get a couple of more wins out of him, and driver and horse aren't retiring any time soon.
"I think the record [for the oldest driver to win a race in Australia] is 79, so it is something to aim for," he said. "I'm still going all right and to get this horse back after the injury is great and it shows what can be done."
Castles has to have a stress test on his heart every year to keep his driver's licence and has never had a problem.
"I go in do stress test and the ECG and the bloke thinks I'm genius," Castles said.
Benefit auction for Webb
The Bankstown Harness Racing Club has put together a strong list of items to be auctioned at its Jim Webb benefit night on Thursday.
Webb has no movement in his legs and very little movement in his arms and hands after he was throw from the sulky when working a horse at Bankstown in June.
He is learning how to use a powered wheelchair to move around, but needs help for all his personal care, and modifications need to made to his home for wheelchair access.
The fundraising dinner at the Bankstown Harness Racing Club will be held in conjunction with a race meeting on Thursday, with tickets $100 per head or $800 for a table of 10 available from the club.
Auction items include a Greg Norman portrait, a framed Makybe Diva picture winning her three Melbourne Cups, a table for 10 at the Miracle Mile and four tickers to the fully catered TAB box at Rosehill.