After 42 years of training horses and “hundreds of winners” Taree trainer Mike Byers is taking his football and going home.

New contenders for the Country Championships at Randwick emerged at the Taree meeting on February 2.

A return to country racing can see capable mare Sheza Gypsy back in winning form at Taree today.

Taree trainer Michael Byers says qualifying for the final of The Championships Country Series at Port Macquarie last Friday was the biggest thrill of his 30-year career.

Country trainers are queuing to qualify their up and coming horses for the inaugural $300,000 Country Championship Final at Randwick in April.