Noel Salter has long been regarded as one of Tasmania's most successful owner-breeder-trainers and last Saturday night at the annual harness racing awards dinner at Luxbet Park he was acknowledged for his involvement in the industry that spans almost 40 years.

Salter was awarded the Edgar Tatlow Medal for his service to the industry not only as a trainer-owner and breeder of standardbreds but for his devoted service as a club and code administrator for over 20 years.

He was a committeeman with the Tasmanian Pacing Club in Hobart for 20 years during which time he stood 12 years as president and in 2005 he was made a life member of the club.

That led to him becoming a board member with the now defunct Tasmanian Harness Racing Board of which he was president for three years and he also played a dominant role with Harness Racing Australia as a delegate for 14 years and for one year he served as vice-president.

Before Salter entered harness racing he was a champion cyclist. He was Tasmanian champion numerous times and he represented Australia at the 1979 World Road Cycling Championships in Sweden.

A year later he went close to national selection for the Moscow Olympics but when Olympic selection avoided him he retired from competitive cycling a year later.

In 1981 he stumbled into harness racing.

"My late Mum and Dad (Doris and Joe) owned and raced pacers and when my parents separated mum was left with the horses so I ended up training them.

"It was a big challenge and I had to rely on a few people to help me through and there were none more helpful than Neville Webberley.

"I still class Neville as the best horseman I've ever known and we remain very good friends."

"I've also has some very good owners including Denis and Ruth Mahoney and Elliott Booth and they have become lifetime friends which is another wonderful part of being involved in this industry – you meet so many good people."

Salter has owned and raced many good horses over the years and probably none better performed than On Parade that won 20 races and amassed almost $180,000 in stakes.

Some of On Parade's wins include the 1992 Raider Stakes, 199i Tasmanian St Leger and 1992 Golden Mile before the horse was sent to Western Australia in 1994 where he won a Mount Eden Sprint and Bunbury Cup.

Other good horses bred by Salter and his wife include Foxfighter (18 wins), Vinokourov that won 17 including the 2007 Raider Stakes, Galdeano (19 wins) and Chippolini that won the 1997 Dandy Patch Stakes before being sold to WA where he ended his career with 32 wins.

In more recent years the Salters bred and raced Boasson Hagen that won the 2014 Dandy Patch and he also won the Breeders Crown Consolation in Victoria.

Salter has retired from training and that part of the family business is in the care of his son Christian who has long been regarded as one of the state's best horsemen.

When Salter was making his acceptance speech on Saturday night he said none of his achievements would have been possible had it not been for his wife Marlene, or "Tiny" as she is affectionately known in the industry.

"When I was away interstate dealing with harness administration business Tiny was at home looking after our transport business as well as looking after the horses and keeping those businesses running smoothly.

"She has been by my side through thick and thin so if they say I deserve this award then so does my wife because she has put in just as may hard yards as me."

Peter Staples