Legendary reinsman set to make his return to the track

Legendary harness racing reinsman Brian Gath is set to make his return to the track this Sunday afternoon at Maryborough.

The 80-year-old suffered a broken leg in three places after slipping over during a frosty Melbourne morning on June 22.

The “Little Master” had a plate and screws inserted into his leg and has made a full recovery ahead of Sunday’s comeback appearance in the sulky.

“Yes, I am going to drive,” Gath said.“The recovery has been good. I drove at the trials the other night and I got around pretty good and didn’t run into any trouble.”

The reinsman, who has spent almost 65 years in harness racing, had a hard time watching on.

“I did miss it,” he said. “I don’t like driving like I used to at every meeting, but I still love to drive my horses every once in a while.”

Gath will partner Billy Zippin (Volstead), who is trained by son Matthew, in the first heat of the E L Titan Victoria Trotters Derby on Sunday.

“He is a lovely little trotter and I was hoping to strike a little bit of an easier heat, but we have struck a few of the outstanding ones,” he said.

“He will go around and be very respectable.”

The winner of the 2022 Gordon Rothacker Medal is taking a modest approach to Sunday’s return.

“If I get around safely, I will be right,” he said. “I am looking forward to it and it is going to be a great day’s racing at Maryborough.

“The Redwood is one of the races I haven’t won.”

The first heat of the E L Titan Victoria Trotters Derby is set to go at 3.09pm on Sunday, with the Group 1 final the following weekend, October 27.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell for Harness Racing Victoria