Hall of Fame turns back the clock to honour racing pioneers

One of the highlights of the recent Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame was the unique creation of a Foundation Daytime Era Hall of Fame comprising 107 participants, horses and associates.

It is surprising that it has taken so long to recognise the achievements of entities that endured WW2, the Great Depression, WW1 (aka The Great War), the 1890s Bank and Property disaster and even the Spanish flu.

While Victoria was the home to Australia’s first ever all trotting meeting, the first country trotting club and meeting, the first trotting specific track and the first American importations, New South Wales was a major player in terms of bloodstock with luminaries such as USA stallions Childe Harold, Huon and Vancleve and the freak trotter Fritz.

Western Australia led the way when it came to racing under lights with South Australia’s Wayville “saucer” following next in the 1930s. Queensland had the Kedron Thousand in the 1920s, the final edition being won by the immortal Walla Walla.

Tasmania’s contribution dates back to the 1880s and has been expertly documented by the decorated Peter Colley in his book “Back to the Trots”.

The Coulter Award winning expose of 19th Century trotting in every State of Australia and New Zealand provides a wonderful understanding of how each State progressed in their respective formative periods.

The Foundation Daytime Era Hall of Fame can be viewed on the brochure, while Classic Families (www.classicfamilies.net) goes one step further due to the recent addition of two new e-books in its Book List – the Foundation Daytime Era Hall of Fame and “Trotting in the 19th Century”.

For lovers of history also included among the host of e-books are 300+ page histories of the Bendigo and Geelong districts plus award winning articles of the Albert Park Speedway and one of the Victorian Foundation inductees James Alfred Roberts.

 

By John Peck for Harness Racing Australia