Coffey homecoming at Birchip’s Running of the Bulls

The 2024 Caulfield Cup winning jockey Harry Coffey’s connection to Victoria’s history-making harness racing slot race is being driven by something far more personal than prizemoney.

 

Coffey and his dad, popular Swan Hill thoroughbred trainer Austy, have taken the reins for one of the slots in the inaugural Running of the Bulls, in the Mallee town of Birchip – and organising a massive family reunion at the historic event on Sunday week, March 8.

The Coffey family is among the 10 slot holders for the $125,000 feature which is set to elevate the traditional party around the township’s iconic annual cup meeting to new heights.

“Harry just took it on board and decided it was the perfect way to have a family reunion where our roots all began,” Austy said.

“He’s also roped in Dan, a nephew of mine, and I reckon a big, big day is on the cards.”

Birchip – famous for its towering Red Mallee Bull and Australia’s best vanilla slice – now adds Victoria’s first harness slot race to its growing list of claims to fame.

Austy is one of 10 Coffey children raised in the town, which has been central to the family’s story for generations.

“We’ve had ties with Birchip since way back in the 1880s – and there’s been six generations that have lived there,” he said.

“My parents have both passed away but they’d be so proud, over the moon, that we are having a reunion at the trots. It’s going to be pretty special.

“I can remember when there was probably up to 40 horses being trained at the Birchip track – it was big back in the day.

“Harry, Dan and a few others have organised marquees and they thought at one stage there might be about 100 family members and friends turning up.  But even if they don’t get that many, it’s still going to be a great day.”

Harry, who partnered Duke De Sessa to win the 2024 Caulfield Cup, adds further appeal to an event that’s already generating huge interest across Victoria.

Austy’s gallops stable has been based at Swan Hill since the 1980s – but he admits to hands-on experience “a long time ago” with a pacer.

“A mate of mine was training it, and he asked me to give him a hand – but in the end I reckon it was me doing nearly all the work!” he laughed.

“It did win a race, though, at the old Nyah track, with Jack Caldow the winning driver.”

The Running of the Bulls has drawn a diverse and high-profile line-up of 10 slot holders, combining racing identities, local sporting clubs and major commercial supporters in a true community-driven concept.

The horses selected to represent each slot will be announced today on SEN Racing.

The slot holders are:

• Giddy Up with Gareth Hall (SEN Radio)
• Fillies In Charge (Birchip and other women)
• Dunn-EZY Seed Cleaning (Horsham trainer Aaron Dunn)
• Birchip-Watchem Football Club
• Murchison-Toolamba Football/Netball Club
• Lewis Family (manager Horsham president Terry Lewis)
• Ashwood Racing (Axedale trainer Alex Ashwood)
• Coffey family (manager Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Harry Coffey)
• Crown Lodge Racing (Shepparton trainer Nathan Jack)
• Cargill Cares for Community (Major sponsor)

“I’m not sure what horse we’re going to have going around for us – at one stage there were three in the pipeline, but one went amiss,” Austy said.

“I’ll leave that to the others.  I just want everyone who’s coming back for the reunion to have a good time.”

Birchip Harness Racing Club President Brad Sharp said importantly, slot holders have committed to a two-year involvement for 2026 and 2027, providing strong confidence in the longer-term future of the Running of the Bulls.

“There’s a genuine buzz around.  We’ve talked about the slot race concept for four or five years and we’re so pleased it’s coming to fruition and it’s so thrilling to deliver Victoria’s first harness slot race.”

by Terry Gange for Harnesslink