Drake, 56, has served a four-week suspension.

It was just her second since she started in the sport in 1984.

“I think I am a pretty fair driver,” Drake said.

“I got hurt years ago and couldn’t drive then and it was a lot harder (watching) then.

“I have mellowed in my old age.”

Drake trains and drives horses and has eight in work on her Childers Cove property.

Two of those, Captain Chequer and Ruby My Love, will run at Terang Harness Racing Club’s meeting tonight.

Seven-year-old bay gelding Captain Chequer is entered in the feature race — the Dick and Anne Box Pace for C3 and C4 pacers over 2180 metres.

Drake’s runner is one of two with south-west connections.

South Ecklin trainer Glen Craven’s hope is four-year-old mare Jilliby Daphne.

Drake said she was unsure how her two horses would fare tonight.

“They are both honest horses,”she said.

‘‘The draws are a bit against them but they’ll be out there trying.

“It’s not one of those nights where you think you are going to win.”

Drake, who credits her father Henry, 93, for her interest in the sport, said she still loved competing.

“I don’t think there are any women still driving as old as me,”she said. 

I have no desire to give it up at this stage.

“I like combining both of them. 

‘‘I enjoy training my own and racing them because you know the horse better than anyone else.”

Drake races at least once a fortnight.

She has celebrated most of her winners at Terang but enjoys racing in Hamilton and Geelong.

“We went for three months without a race,”she said.

‘‘They are not machines, you can’t race all the time and you have ones not worth racing too.’’ 

Drake’s niece Melissa Price owns Ruby My Love.

“It’s a really family sport,” she said.

Tonight’s seven-race program includes a two-year-old pace and three-year-old pace. 

Race five is the I.W. McCallum Pace.

McCallum, a Charlton stalwart of the harness racing industry, died on Friday night. 

Terang Harness Racing Club will honour McCallum during tonight’s race meeting.