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Long Forest reinswoman Kate Gath has claimed her second Noel Smith Memorial Horsham Invitational Drivers Championship, taking out the annual event on Monday. Gath produced a consistent performance throughout the championship, piloting two winners and two seconds to finish on 37 points, one clear of Jordan Leedham (36) and Michael Bellman (35). It was Gath’s […]
It is with great sadness that the harness racing industry farewells Mrs Denise Gath, the beloved wife of legendary trainer-driver Brian Gath, who has passed away aged 76. Denise had been unwell for a lengthy period, suffering from dementia, which sadly took its toll on Monday, September 29, when she passed away at 6.30pm. Denise […]
The close-knit Maryborough harness racing community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Geoffrey Colin Clover on Sunday, September 27, aged 87, following a short illness after returning from a trip to Broken Hill with his wife, Cheryl. Born in Maryborough and known to all as ‘Mick’ (a fanatical Carlton supporter), he started life […]
Bunding (Ballan) trainer Phil Chircop is a highly respected horseman who has enjoyed major success in the past, with several credits to his name. The Warp Drive, with the Tasmanian Pacing Championship, Hobart Cup and both the Geelong and Cranbourne Cups amongst his harness racing wins, Shine Of Hollywood, Johnny Wizzard, Dallas Page, Maxnjax and […]
The entire harness racing community is mourning Tuesday’s passing of well-known Benalla-district horseman Kevin McFarlane, who died two days after his beloved Wangaratta Pacing Cup meeting had been run and won. Kevin, who passed just two weeks short of his 93rd birthday, loved his harness racing and was a regular competitor at a number of tracks […]
The harness racing industry is mourning well-known Victorian owner/trainer/driver Geoff Senior, who sadly passed away on Thursday, January 29 at the age of 87. Geoff had been hooked on the sport after attending a meeting at the old Healesville track back in the early sixties and after being introduced to Kew trainer Dick Gibbs, whom […]
The Cranbourne Harness Racing Club paid homage to the late Gordon Lockman at its meeting last Sunday (18/1) with the running of the annual Gordon Lockman Memorial over 2080 metres, taken out by local trainer Jayne Davies’ four-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven–Somedreamsomewhere gelding Rolinginthedeep. Gordon was a highly respected member of the harness racing community, […]
There has always been an aura about Harness Racing Victoria’s second biggest open class feature for the season, the $250,000 Victoria Cup, referred to by many as the ‘Cox Plate’ of harness racing. Field selection and barrier draws have made the race an intriguing event over the years, with champions from all over the country […]
Former Maryborough Harness Racing Club Secretary/Manager, Les Chapman, well known to many industry participants, passed away suddenly on Friday, August 29. Les had been involved in the sport for a long period of time, assisting at the great Maryborough trainer Jack Moore’s stables. He even had a drive for him on a few occasions, winning […]
Shepparton area (Gillieston) owner/trainer/driver Wayne Hayes passed away suddenly on July 30 at the age of 66. Wayne, a teacher by trade, had been involved in harness racing since first being licensed in the 1980/81 season, having had a total of 288 drives for 15 winners, including his most recent with a Courage Under Fire […]
Former Boort Harness Racing Club President John Byrne passed away at St John of God Hospital, Bendigo, on July 30 at the age of 88, after a lengthy illness. John leaves behind his wife Patricia, seven children and 25 grandchildren. He was known to everyone in Boort and nearby Kerang, and was described by former long-serving […]
It’s sad to report the passing of long-time passionate harness devotee and owner Lorraine Duffy at 85, the mother of Shepparton trainer/driver Steven Duffy, on Saturday, August 2. Lorraine had a long history of involvement in harness racing, spending many years working at the Trotting Control Board (now HRV) offices, which were based at the […]
The close-knit trotting community has been left saddened by the passing of long-serving Ararat Harness Racing Cub committeeman Bob Collins on July 12 at the age of 82. Bob was highly respected at the club and would always be on hand to meet and greet trainers, drivers and visitors when Ararat raced. In fact, he […]
The regular Tuesday night harness racing meeting at Shepparton on April 8 honoured young Riverina reinsman Nic Dewar, who was tragically killed in a road accident while returning from a Shepparton meeting in February 2018. The feature race was the 1690-metre Nic Dewar Memorial Pace, won by six-year-old Sunshine Beach–Illawong Fabulous gelding Ohhemmjay Cresco, trained […]
Moyreisk’s Ainsworth family, regulars at most Swan Hill meetings, snared the trifecta at Tuesday’s interesting seven-race card when eight-year-old Danny Bouchea-Palkia mare Boutika defeated Night Whisperer and Singara Ted in the 2240m 2024 Trainer Of The Year Julie Douglas Trotters Handicap. Trained by Barry Ainsworth for wife Katrina and driven by Kerryn Manning, Boutika stepped […]
The close-knit harness racing community is saddened by the sudden passing of Barry Dunn, aged 82, on Friday, March 1 at Geelong Hospital. Dunn, the father of astute Horsham horseman Aaron, loved the sport and was a longtime owner/trainer, with his first runner being Double Trust back in the 1980s. A shearer by trade, Dunn […]
Well-known Melton owner/breeder Charlie Chircop passed away aged 78 on Monday, January 13 following a short illness. Charlie loved his harness racing and was a familiar face at the trots for many years, enjoying great success with a number of horses that he raced. These included Table Card (1987 VSS Trotting Final for Sam Chircop, […]
The A.G. Hunter Cup – Victoria’s feature open class race for the season is almost upon us to be held at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday, February 1. The Grand circuit classic should attract the best harness racing horses available including the latest Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo and hopefully duel Inter Dominion victor Queensland […]
Rockbank-based trainer Brian Kiesey, who was born on Christmas Day 1960, sadly passed away on Sunday, November 17 aged 64. Kiesey loved nothing more than being around his horses, spending many hours each day with them and giving them undivided attention. He was part of harness racing since working for Kilmore trainer Bob Knight before […]
The Victorian harness racing community is saddened by the passing of long-time owner/breeder Kaye Hartnett at the age of 85. Kaye and late husband Martin bred and raced numerous horses over the years, all wearing the familiar colours of gold and black diamonds with the majority carrying the ‘Illawong’ prefix in their name. Horses that […]
Prominent harness racing trainer-driver Kevin Murray passed away on Sunday, May 19 at the age of 90. A former Kiwi who came to Australia with a horse named Grand Charge, Kevin had met the late Neil Evans who had taken his trotter Mighty Miller to compete in the Auckland Inter Dominion series. This gave him […]
Sheryl Hawke celebrated a major birthday during the week and a horse raced by her family put the icing on the cake at Melton on Saturday night. The Beach Fantasy (Downbytheseaside) – who Sheryl owns in partnership with father John, brother Darren, husband Mark, sister-in-law Lynelle and John’s partner Gaye Lester – brought up three […]
The A.G. Hunter Cup – Victoria’s feature open class race for the harness racing season will be held at Melton Entertainment Park this Saturday night, and what a race it will be. Current Inter Dominion winner Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) and runner up Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) will again clash to do battle for the […]
Long-time Ararat-based harness racing trainer-driver Ian Shalders passed away last week after a short illness when approaching the age of 94. Shalders will long be remembered for his deeds through the 1980s with the very good mare Skipper Carissa, who won numerous races including the 1983 Galaxy Grand Slam Final at Moonee Valley (carrying a […]
