Contributor
There are people in harness racing whose statistics tell only a fraction of their story and Lockington horseman Ted Jepsen, who has passed away aged 91, was one of them. To generations of Victorian participants, Jepsen was a trainer, a storyteller, a competitor, a mentor, a sportsman and, above all, a man whose passion for […]
For more than two years, former Victorian harness racing reinswoman Shannon O’Sullivan barely went near a horse. The talented driver had notched up 149 wins before stepping away in 2024 for backpacking adventures in the northern hemisphere, motivated by the chance to discover more about herself away from the sport that had shaped her life. […]
South Australian harness racing trainer Trent Hoare celebrated a career-best night at Port Pirie on Saturday, but the significance of the results extended far beyond the winner’s circle. The young horseman prepared two winners, recorded the first training trifecta of his career, won his grandfather’s memorial race and remarkably saw all five of his runners […]
Australia’s annual Pacing for Pink campaign has once again showcased the industry’s remarkable ability to unite behind an important cause, with sponsored drivers recording 743 wins in pink pants across Australia during May. The nationwide effort has helped raise vital funds and awareness for the McGrath Foundation, with clubs, sponsors, drivers and supporters once again embracing the campaign in support of […]
Warragul Harness Racing Club is embracing innovation as it looks to deliver one of the most intriguing meetings on Victoria’s harness racing Cups calendar on the King’s Birthday long weekend. The club has unveiled a unique same-day heats-and-final format for its flagship Pacing Cup next Monday (June 8). Warragul has faced its share of challenges […]
The stage is set for something special at Shepparton Harness Racing Club’s Pacing for Pink Day this Sunday (May 3) – the flagship event that sets the tone for the month-long national campaign. While some racegoers will enjoy a High Tea experience at the races, there’s a full program of entertainment on offer, including raffles, […]
He’s the ultimate “people’s horse” of harness racing – and now veteran pacer Bulletproof Boy is airborne, chasing a Group One dream on the other side of the country. The much-loved 11-year-old was loaded for his flight to Western Australia this afternoon, bound for Perth’s Gloucester Park after part-owner and trainer Scott Ewen, of Cranbourne, […]
Two qualifying heats of Victorian harness racing’s iconic country cup, the CA Fitness Mildura Pacing Cup, delivered their trademark twist tonight (April 7). Local hope My Ultimate Jimmy (Downbytheseaside) stole the show, turning the form on its head and setting up a wider-open and less predictable final than anyone expected this Saturday night (April 11). […]
“I am pretty lucky to be driving him. I’ve had a good run with him and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to try to get another feature win with him.” That’s the view of driver Ryan Sanderson ahead of Tuesday night’s (April 7) CA Fitness Mildura Pacing Cup heats, where boom four-year-old Fox Dan […]
It’s three days on, but longtime country Victorian harness racing identity John Campbell is still shaking his head at how the Boort Trotting Club managed to get its nine-race Cup meeting completed last Sunday (March 1). “I’ve got to be honest and say that every time we got through a race during the afternoon, we […]
Milestones come in all shapes and sizes, and Victorian Mallee harness racing identity Gary “Fred” Peters is within reach of a significant personal benchmark at this Sunday’s Boort Cup meeting (March 1). Stable favourite No Emotion (named from his breeding, by Grinfromeartoear out of Sokysokylala) recorded his 10th career win at Charlton last week, moving the 10-year-old […]
Sassy Victorian pacer Yankee Mojoh (American Ideal) wasn’t meant to race again – but not only is the tough little mare back at the track, she’s back in the harness racing winners’ stall. “Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think she would race again,” jubilant part-owner and trainer Julie Brimacombe said after the […]
The bond between two respected Victorian harness racing families, first forged in the late 1970s, has carried forward to a new generation and was again in the spotlight at a recent country meeting The O’Sullivan and Mullan families first struck up a friendship in Toolern Vale, near Melton, when Hall of Famer and Interdominion-winning reinsman […]
The writing is on the wall for jovial Lancefield harness racing identity Steve Cleave – 2026 could well be his biggest year yet. Cleave recently celebrated his 50th birthday in style, hosting a housewarming party with 90 guests who were treated to an unexpected highlight – his marriage to partner Lorraine Holtzhausen. “It was just […]
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 […]
Likeable Victorian horseman Shane Taylor reckons he’ll be on harness racing’s Cloud Nine for quite a while to come. Based at Ballan, near Ballarat, Taylor landed his first ever race-driving win at Maryborough last week with five-year-old trotting mare Magic Law (Lawman) – at what was his 99th steer. “It’s taken a long time to […]
Twenty-year-old harness racing driver Ella Lyons, who joined an elite group by winning at her first race drive, is already hungry for more success. The (Queensland) Gold Coast local helps at the stables of Vic Frost and his wife Gail Geeson and admits she never really imagined herself in the sulky. “I was just happy […]
Ace South Australian harness racing driver Wayne Hill is taking a philosophical approach to currently being on the sidelines. “Physically and mentally the break is doing me the world of good because it’s usually full-on. I don’t get suspended a lot and although you want to take holidays, you never get around to it,” Hill […]
Harness racing driver Nathan Jack has spoken of a terrifying race against time after a tyre blowout turned into a fully-engulfed truck fire as he transported horses to Saturday night’s (Jan 31) Cranbourne Cup meeting. Jack was travelling on the Hume Highway near Kilmore with four horses aboard when a rear tyre blew out on […]
Harness racing breeders will see more money flow their way under a change to Vicbred first-win bonus allocations that takes effect in Victoria from next week (October 13). Foal nominators will now receive 15 per cent of any first-win bonus, up from five per cent. The increase effectively gifts breeders an extra $700 each time […]
Former champion Victorian reinsman Daryl “Dasher” Douglas reminded the harness racing world of his class at Bendigo tonight (Oct 1), recording his first win in more than two years. Douglas guided three-year-old filly Emjay Jazz (A Rocknroll Dance) to victory in the Gold Central Victorian Pace for his sister-in-law Julie Douglas, showing the same precision […]
Victorian hobby trainer Daryl Prosser has returned to the harness racing winner’s circle for the first time in more than seven years – and his latest success carried a special significance. Prosser prepared Ataboy Charlie (What The Hill) to take out the Vale Les Chapman Forever In Trotting Trotters Handicap at Maryborough (Sept 8), with […]
One of the real personalities of Victorian harness racing, Jason Lee, went to extraordinary lengths last Saturday (Sept 6) to combine two of his sporting passions – football and harness racing. Lee faced a dilemma: he was due to play his 150th game for Nirranda in the Warrnambool Football League – in a preliminary final, […]
Cranbourne Harness Racing Club is kicking goals with a bold new initiative designed to attract more horses and trainers to its upcoming meetings. The club’s “Spring Cash Splash” is injecting an additional $42,000 in stakemoney across a range of races, along with an $8000 trainers’ bonus to be decided on a points system. General manager […]
