By MATT NICHOLLS
MITCH Faulkner has bigger ambitions than training or driving a winner at Armidale over the next two Sundays.
The Uralla reinsman has a burning desire to return to the United States, where he has made a name for himself in the sulky during his two stints in America.
“I’m just waiting for all the visa stuff to go through before I go back,” Faulkner said.
“I am really glad I’ll get the opportunity to drive at Armidale as this will be the first time.”
Faulkner, 28, got his licence to drive in harness races in May, 2001. It was exactly one month after Armidale staged its last meeting.
“At the time we didn’t know it was going to be the last meeting,” he said.
“Now 13 years has gone and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Faulkner is part of the Armidale Harness Racing Club committee and has been one of the many hardworking people to get pacing back in the city.
The trainer/driver only has two horses in work – Well Caught Marsh and Inexchange – and both are likely to race at Armidale this Sunday.
The latter horse has been with Faulkner since late November and has already won a couple of races.
“Inexchange won his first start for me at Tamworth and two starts later he won again for me,” Faulkner said of the former Darrel Graham-trained pacer.
How Inexchange came to be in Uralla is an interesting story.
“He was for sale and I called up to buy him,” Faulkner said.
“I offered a bit less than the asking price so (trainer) Darrel said he would talk to the owner and get back to me.
“Not long later I got a call to come and pick the horse up.
“The owner just loved the horse and was happy for me to train him.”
That owner is a South Australian man who hasn’t yet spoken to Faulkner.
“I’ve never spoken to him on the phone… we just text message each other.
“When I have a bill for him I just send him an email and he pays.”
While competition will be tough for both Inexchange and Well Caught Marsh at Armidale, Faulkner can’t help but look to the future.
His dad Nick is a respected harness trainer and has married an American woman. He is also waiting to get approval to move full-time to the United States.
“Once the paperwork is sorted I’ll be over there,” Faulkner said.
“Life as a driver is much different in America. Most of them are just drivers and don’t train.”
Faulkner’s first two drives in the States were winners, while he has driven on some of the best tracks in the country, including the Meadowlands and Pocono Downs, where he was based in Pennsylvania.
“I love being in Armidale and Uralla, but I can’t wait to get back over to America,” he said.
