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Popular Charlton harness racing horseman Zac Steenhuis might have landed a surprise winner at his home track last week – but the victory is coming with plenty of good-natured “feedback” from his mates. Steenhuis dusted off the driving colours for the first time in more than 18 months and guided No Shenaniganz (Pastor Stephen) to […]
A return to familiar territory proved especially sweet for Victorian harness racing trainer Shane Sanderson and his son Ryan, who celebrated a winning double on a recent visit back to Charlton – highlighted by a poignant victory in memory of a respected former colleague. “I did pick out the Vale Greg Norman VicBred Maiden Pace […]
There would be few people in Victorian harness racing who haven’t shared a philosophical chat, a laugh, or a moment of quiet wisdom with the much-loved Charlton horseman Joey Thompson, who passed away overnight after an extended illness. Thompson’s gentle nature, sharp mind and ever-present sense of humour made him one of the sport’s most […]
Harness Racing Victoria’s industry roadshow series rolled into Charlton on Tuesday night, and despite wild weather and a busy local calendar, more than 50 participants showed up. The September roadshows are designed to give participants and the broader trots community a chance to engage directly with HRV leadership, review the 2025 financial year, and hear […]
Few figures in regional Victorian harness racing embodied both achievement and humility quite like the late Matt Donaldson, whose name was synonymous with the sport in Charlton and beyond for more than seven decades. Donaldson, who passed away this week, leaves behind not only a record of achievement, but also memories of a kind, generous […]
Harness racing might have come to Leon Fanning and Andrea O’Gorman by chance, but the Charlton couple now sit at the centre of one of the most passionate country racing communities in Victoria. Fanning had no background in the sport before a group of mates turned “footy and pub talk” into reality more than 30 […]
After 21 unplaced starts, flashy chestnut trotting mare Salute To Sunny (Framework) may have been down to her last chance – but she turned it all around with a determined and long-awaited win at Charlton’s harness racing meeting last Monday (August 11). Horsham trainer Janet Exell admitted she had told driver Kerryn Manning before the […]
It was a case of a formality and a boilover in tonight’s harness racing heats of the Barry Bottams Mildura Pacing Cup (April 1), with the favorite delivering as expected in the first heat, and a shock result unfolding in the second. Horsham trainer-driver Aaron Dunn turned in a superb drive to ensure four-year-old entire […]
Respected country harness racing club administrator Joey Thompson reckons seven or eight years is about the right length of time at the helm of any organisation – but, fair to say, Thompson crams more than most into the years! Although he’s the first to say his club is far from a one-man show, as president, […]
Astute Victorian trainer-driver Michael Stanley has certainly blasted back to form from a serious injury setback and is as energised as he’s ever been to fine-tune harness racing winners. Stanley broke three vertebrae when he was hit from behind by another runner in the Bendigo Cup in January – but with his own health back […]
The progressive team at the Charlton Harness Racing Club in Central Victoria undoubtedly works best under pressure – but even they admit they’re a little nervous about the fast-approaching Charlton Pacing Cup deadline. The Cup is less than two weeks away, on March 20, and there’s plenty of work to be done on the major […]
On the face of it, there’s only one thing in common between the country Victorian town of Charlton (population 1000) and the giant “Big M” Meadowlands casino and racing megaplex in New Jersey. It’s harness racing. And for a club as energetic and ambitious as Charlton, that’s enough! Undaunted by the contrast, the country Victorian […]
