Wongala Glen won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 22 December 1966, followed by Bon Adios and Tara Monarch. Wongala Glen owned by Mr WA McKenzie, was trained and driven by WA McKenzie. Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 22-12-66/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2600 metres/ Mile rate 2.9-2/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Wongala Glen (Lord Kara - Spring Queen) / Bon Adios 2nd / Tara Monarch 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr WA McKenzie/ Trained and driven by - WA McKenziebendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1966, wongala glen, wa mckenzie, bon adios, tara monarch, bill mckenzie

Miss Raidal won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 5 January 1971, followed by Allegiance Choice and Gallymont Road. Miss Raidal owned by A & M Perry, was trained by A Perry, driven by B Morse. Miss Raidal raced from 1969 (3yo) through to 1974 (8yo). Career: 15 wins 11 seconds 8 thirds 123 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Pacing Club Bendigo 5th Jan 1971 At the bottom: Left corner: Owner A & M Perry/ Trainer A Perry/ Driver B Morse Centre: Miss Raidal (Alcoran - Cissy Raider) / Allegiance Choice 2nd / Gallymont Road 3rd Right corner: Dist 13 furlongs/Time 3.26.2/5/Mile Rate 2.7.1/5bendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, miss raidal, b morse, a perry, a & m perry, 1971, allegiance choice, gallymont road, brian morse

Lincoln Star won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 22 February 1978, followed by Mark Radium and Diamond Charger. Lincoln Star owned by Mr & Mrs RB Conroy, was trained and driven by RB Conroy. Lincoln Star raced from 1974 (2yo) through to 1979 (7yo). Career: 29 wins 15 seconds 19 thirds 139 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.178 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 22-2-78/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Lincoln Star (Royal Dollar - Flora Scott) / Mark Radium 2nd / Diamond Charger 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr & Mrs RB Conroy/ Trained and driven by - RB Conroybendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1978, lincoln star, mr & mrs rb conroy, mark radium, diamond charger, rb conroy, bob conroy, r conroy

HistoricalHistoric winsBlack with red hoopsgeorge daniel, harness racing colours, diana wood percy direct 1928-29, ascot vale, trotting, pacing, richmond

Bay Chapel won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 11 January 1977, followed by Purple Para and Gallagher. Bay Chapel owned by Mr & Mrs J Hussey Jnr, was trained by RV Knight, driven by V Knight. Bay Chapel raced from 1973 (2yo) through to 197 (8yo). Career: 23 wins 14 seconds 17 thirds 132 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.035 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 11-1-77/ Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2615 metres/ Mile rate 2.5.3/5 /Track Record / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Bay Chapel (Chapel Chief - Princess Del) / Purple Para 2nd / Gallagher 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr & Mrs J Hussey Jnr/ Trained by RV Knight/ Driven by - V Knightbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1977, bay chapel, rv knight, mr & mrs j hussey jnr, purple para, gallagher, vj knight, vin knight, bob knight

Chapel Elect won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 20 January 1976, followed by King's Mead and Thoron. Chapel Elect owned by MJ Tate, was trained and driven by K Pocock. Chapel Elect raced from 1974 (3yo) through to 1978 (7yo). Career: 17 wins 9 seconds 8 thirds 79 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 20-1-76/ Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2615 metres/ Mile rate 2.7.2/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Chapel Elect (Chapel Chief - Lady Pat) / King's Mead 2nd / Thoron 3rd Right corner: Owned by- MJ Tate/ Trained and driven by - K Pocockbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1976, chapel elect, mj tate, king's mead, thoron, ken pocock, ke pocock, k pocock, a robinson, alan robinson

Glamour Chief won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 21 January 1975, followed by Yallara and Go Van. Glamour Chief owned by M Robinson, WR Lanyon, B & C Hill, was trained and driven by RA Robinson. Glamour Chief raced from 1970 (2yo) through to 1976 (8yo). Career: 29 wins 9 seconds 4 thirds 59 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.127 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record. Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 21-1-75/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2615 metres/ Mile rate 2.6.2/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Glamour Chief (Chief Rainbow - Dainmont) / Yallara 2nd / Go Van 3rd Right corner: Owned by- M Robinson, WR Lanyon, B & C Hill/ Trained and driven by - RA Robinsonbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1975, glamour chief, ra robinson, m robinson, wr lanyon, b & c hill, yallara, go van, rex robinson

Gallagher won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 22 January 1974, followed by Royal Gaze and Agitator. Gallagher owned by Mr & Mrs G Rothacker, was trained and driven by G Rothacker. Gallagher raced from 1972 (2yo) through to 1978 (8yo). Career: 38 wins 19 seconds 29 thirds 139 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.117 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 22-1-74/ Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2212 metres/ Mile rate 2.9.4/5 / BK Matthews Photo Centre: Won by Gallagher (Grand Monarch - Angelique) / Royal Gaze 2nd / Agitator 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr & Mrs G Rothacker/ Trained and driven by - G Rothackerbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1974, gallagher, mr & mrs g rothacker, g rothacker, royal gaze, agitator, gordon rothacker, gw rothacker

Unique Hanover won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 16 January 1973, followed by Murray Mac and Stanfield Globe. Unique Hanover owned by Mr KJ Muir, was trained by KJ Muir, driven by S Walsh. Unique Hanover raced from 1971 (3yo) through to 1975 (7yo). Career: 17 wins 10 seconds 10 thirds 81 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 16-1-73/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2600 metres/ Mile rate 2.10 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Unique Hanover (Smokey Hanover - Unique Ayr) / Murray Mac 2nd / Stanfield Globe 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr KJ Muir/ Trained by KJ Muir/ Driven by - S Walshbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1973, unique hanover, kj muir, s walsh, murray mac, stanfield globe, stan walsh, kevin muir

Rhodonite won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 11 January 1972, followed by Stormy Day and Son of Nancy. Rhodonite owned by Mrs KM Lee, was trained and driven by IR Lee. Rhodonite raced from 1969 (2yo) through to 1974 (7yo). Career: 21 wins 23 seconds 15 thirds 124 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.236 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record. Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Pacing Cup/ Bendigo 11-1-72/ Return to Scale At the bottom: Left corner: Owner: Mrs KM Lee/Trainer and Driver IR Lee Centre: Rhodonite (Historic Crown - Ima Scott) / Stormy Day 2nd / Son of Nancy 3rd/ Track Record Right corner: Distance 13 furlongs/Margin 15 yds/Time 3.23/Mile Rate 2.5bendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1972, rhodonite, ir lee, mrs km lee, stormy day, son of nancy, dick lee

Freedom Day won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 16 January 1979, followed by Split The Deck and Spring Find. Freedom Day owned by Mr S Brain, was trained and driven by KD Murray. Freedom Day raced from 1976 (2yo) through to 1982 (8yo). Career: 23 wins 25 seconds 16 thirds 175 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 16-1-79/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.05-2/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Freedom Day (Minuteman - Beauty Vance) / Split The Deck 2nd / Spring Find 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr S Brain/ Trained and driven by - KD Murraybendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1979, freedom day, kd murray, mr s brain, split the deck, spring find, kevin murray

Dean's Special won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 15 January 1980, followed by Margaret Shannon and Wendy Robin. Dean's Special owned by J Cabbage Syndicate, Mr E Holland & Partners, was trained and driven by DR Ritchie. Dean's Special raced from 1978 (3yo) through to 1984 (9yo). Career: 27 wins 11 seconds 2 thirds 80 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.304 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 15-1-80/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.03-4/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Dean's Special (Pipiriki - Tri Vance) / Margaret Shannon 2nd / Wendy Robin 3rd Right corner: Owned by- J Cabbage Syndicate, MR E Holland & Partners/ Trained and driven by - DR Ritchiebendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1980, dean's special, dr ritchie, j cabbage syndicate, mr e holland & partners, margaret shannon, wendy robin, des ritchie

Taronga won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 13 January 1981, followed by High Moore and Justin Hanover. Taronga owned by BW & VJ Ellis, was trained and driven by C Powell. Taronga raced from 1976 (3yo) through to 1981 (8yo). Career: 22 wins 15 seconds 20 thirds 138 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 13-1-81/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.03-1/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Taronga (General Scott - Avian Debra) / High Moore 2nd / Justin Hanover 3rd Right corner: Owned by- BW & VJ Ellis/ Trained and driven by - C Powellbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1981, taronga, c powell, bw & vj ellis, high moore, justin hanover, cliff powell, ch powell

Popular Alm won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 12 January 1982, followed by William Boyd and Master Kane. Popular Alm owned by Sun Group, was trained and driven by RV Knight. Popular Alm raced from 1979 (2yo) through to 1985 (8yo). Career: 49 wins 7 seconds 3 thirds 62 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.24 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 12-1-82/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.06-1/5 / Greg Matthews Photo - Stawell Centre: Popular Alm (Sovereign Adios - Direct Design) / William Boyd 2nd / Master Kane 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Sun Group/ Trained and driven by - RV Knightbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1982, popular alm, rv knight, sun group, william boyd, master kane, bob knight, vj knight, vin knight

W. A. (Bill) McKenzie Bill McKenzie was a Moulamein (NSW) district wheat, sheep and cattle farmer with a property of some 6000 acres. His well-known colours of green with yellow braces greeted the judge over a period of 40 years with the horses Laurie Pronto, Pedro Nell, Little June, Prancing Nell, Little Duchess and the Melbourne Showgrounds, Bendigo and Mildura Cup winner Wongala Glen. Bill travelled far and wide with his horses and was a regular competitor at country agricultural shows.Bill Mckenzie won the 1966 Bendigo Cup driving Wongala Glen.Green race colours with yellow braces and armbandsbendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, bill mckenzie, bendigo cup, wongala glen, race colours, wa mckenzie

Raiarmagh Pool Gordon RothackerRace colours blue with yellow spots, button front and tie at bottombendigo harness racing club, raiarmagh pool, bendigo cup, g rothacker, gw rothacker, gordon rothacker

Dick Lee is a prolific Group 1 winning trainer and driver, successful breeder and owner, International and trotting pioneer, outstanding administrator and tireless volunteer. Dick Lee, son of a soldier-settler was a track ranger at the Melbourne Showgrounds before accepting a position as a private trainer in the emerging trotting industry in Wales, taking a team of horses to the UK where he had 105 drives for 29 wins. The adventure would also see him compete in Holland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Russia and the US, always with trotters. He returned to Australia in 1970 with “a wife, a trainer-driver premiership, half-a-dozen miniature Irish donkeys and a horse in tow”. The horse, Hermes, would sire 1976 Melbourne Cup winner Van Der Hum. Dick served 12 years as president of the Victorian Square Trotters Association to advocate for the gait. Emerging from this time are: 1985 The Redwood Classic for 2yo trotters 1996 the first all-trotting card, the Redwood Day at Maryborough. Dick Lee’s training and driving produced among others: Bendigo and Melbourne Pacing Cups winner Rhodonite Australian Trotters of the Year Hampdens Pride and Game Ebony V L Dullard Cup winners Glenfield Girl and Game Ebony Rufus Youngblood, whose racing career included 32 wins, 23 seconds and 18 thirds from 139 starts, the first Australian-bred horse to win four Derbies and Australian Horse of the Year in 1987. Dick Lee was inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2019White race colours with purple triangle pointing upbendigo, bendigo cup, lord's raceway, dick lee, rhodonite, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, race colour, hall of fame, ir (dick) lee, ir lee

Driver Stan Walsh worn the colours while driving Unique Hanover, trained by Kevin Muir winning the Bendigo Cup in 1973.Green racing colour with white stars unique hanover, stan walsh, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo cup, race colours, kevin muir, 1973, stars, s walsh, k muir

Raiarmagh Pool won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 22 December 1967, followed by Ballon D'Essai and Optical. Raiarmagh Pool owned by Mr and Mrs Evans, was trained and driven by Gordon Rothacker. Raiarmagh Pool raced from 1966 (4yo) through to 1968 (6yo). Career: 20 wins 1 second 0 thirds 26 starts. Refer to Identifier 15.230 (Media) for Full Career Performance Record.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a white frame. At the top: Bendigo Trotting Club 22-12-67/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2600 metres/ Mile rate 2.8-1/5 / Greg Matthews Photo Centre: Raiarmagh Pool ( Raiarmagh - Main Pool) / Ballon d'essai 2nd / Optical 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr & Mrs G. Evans/ Trained and driven by - G. Rothackerbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, raiarmagh pool, gordon rothacker, driver, trainer, owner, 1967, ballon d'essai, optical, g rothacker, gw rothacker, g evans

Barry Lyons owned and managed the Windemere Hotel in Kangaroo Flat along with his wife Betty. Barry was a long time member of the Lions Club of Kangaroo Flat. Barry served as a Bendigo City Councillor from 2008 to 2016, and as Mayor in 2013 - 2014. Twelve owner passes collected and owned by Barry Lyons of Bendigo. Plastic passes attached to a lanyard, on some.. bendigo, barry and betty lyons, windemere hotel kangaroo flat, lions club kangaroo flat, moonee valley harness racing club, false gem, victorian racing carnival

Maori's Crown (The Contender Imp P 1.54.0 - Maori Mara Vic Tr 2.9.2 (Bravado Hanover)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (9th Foal). Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy & Co Pty Ltd. Trainer R McD Healy. Maori's Crown raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2001 (5yo). Career: 8 wins 1 second 5 thirds 32 starts $57,060 2.06.2 Winning Drivers: BR Gath (4) BR Healy (3) MN Wishart (1). Won on 4 Tracks: Moonee Valley (5) Bendigo (1) Maryborough (1) Ballarat (1)Maori's Crown won the 1998 Edgar Tatlow Memorial 2yo Trotters at Moonee Valley over 1940m at a mile rate of 2.06.3. Driven by BR Gath. Defeating Heza Joule 2nd and Kellybrooke 3rd.Glass plaqueVicbred /Edgar Tatlow Memorial / 2yo Trotters / Moonee Valley 23 May 1998 / Won by / Harness Racing Victoria Designed and Handcrafted / in Australia by / Renown Silverwaretrotting, edgar tatlow, moonee valley, 1998, ric healy, r healy, br gath, brian gath, br healy, bryan healy, b gath, b healy, r mcd healy

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Tuesday, May 25, 2004. Bike champ: Kevin Innes was a champion cyclist who claimed the title of Bendigo champion three years in a row. Also well known in harness racing, Mr Innes now lives in Inglewood.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Barrie House on Ferris Road was located on the west side south of Highway. Weather board house was moved from Harkness Rd in 1941 and was moved to Bulmans Road near Porteous Road 1988/90 The site was near the entrance to the Harness Racing Complex.Black and white photos of the Ferris Road landscapeagriculture

“Maori’s Idol” Trotter - Brian Healy Marnoo. Horse inside Marnoo bar with silver cup drinking beer. Brian Healy, holding the reins. The Healy family live at Marnoo. The horse was trained at Marnoo. The horse Maori's Idol won twenty four races in succession, equaling the Australian Harness racing record.Black and white photograph of a group of people around a horse in a hotel bar.Copyright belonging to Pictorial Dept. of "The Age" 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne Victoria, 3001 Australia.stawell

John Phyland It was during 1890 to 1918 that John Phyland, son of Irish immigrants, born in 1866, ran a 2000-acre sheep station. The property, Lake Vale, was south of Balranald, towards the Murray River town of Swan Hill. This would seem to be an unlikely location for a harness racing breeding operation, being more than 400km from Melbourne, where harness racing was centred on the Richmond track. But, undeterred by distance, Phyland purchased his first trotter in 1882 and proceeded to acquire expensive, high quality standardbred mares and stallions and embark on a venture that saw him: • Breed and race winners of major races including The Melbourne Thousand, Bendigo JC Handicap (raced almost continuously on the grass track at Epsom, Bendigo, from 1867 to 1946), Boort Cup and numerous races at the Melbourne metropolitan tracks at Richmond and Ascot; • Acquire Soultline Villa and training stables adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds so he could race at metropolitan tracks; • Develop a large self-contained training facility (including resident blacksmith) and home at 19 Raleigh St, Essendon; • Become the chair of the Victorian Trotting Horse Owners and Breeders’ Association, which lobbied strenuously for night trotting in the 1930s; • Breed from imported and locally bred mares that left families that are still active today. Heaven Rocks, the Ballarat Cup, New Zealand Jewels three and four-year-winner, and 1:49.6 ($554,529) export to the US, is six generations on from the Phyland bred mare Dusky Ribbons; • Saw the start of the training career of colourful and controversial Cedric (Ced) McLean, Phyland’s son-in-law, with a mare left when Phyland died.Blue with yellow starsbalranald, trotting, phyland, richmond trotting

Prior to the election of female Councillors and Mayors from the 1960’s onwards the Mayoress role was one of the few ways women could be active in civic life. Mayoresses made important contributions to their local communities through their charity work and as ambassadors for their region on a state and at times, international level. They also undertook some Mayoral duties on occasions when the Mayor was unavailable. Annie Irene Michelsen (nee Tussup) born Huntly (1870-1955). Mayoress 1926/1927, 1935/1936, 1942/1943. Wife of Cr John Andrew Michelsen OBE. Pioneer in the field of social work and regarded as a woman of tremendous vitality and versatility. Known as an outstanding horse woman and breeder of standardbreds for harness racing. Member numerous sporting clubs and foundation president of the Bendigo Nurses Association. Framed, oval photographic studio portrait. Hand coloured detail. Mrs. Michelsen wore a gown of black crepe eros, cut to mould the figure and fall into a train at the back. A cascade eflect of gold lame from one shoulder to the hem in front gave graceful movement to the front of the gown, and wing draperies lined with gold lame were shirred to the shoulders of the square neckline. She wore a shoulder spray of golden orchids and carried a bouquet of old gold roses and golden leaves (1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 3 Jun 1936 annie tussup, mayoress michelsen, mayor michelsen, vincent kelly photographer, city of bendigo, city of greater bendigo portraits

"Melton has a long and celebrated history of horse breeding and racing. Draught horses were a crucial aspect of life in the early days of European settlement, and were heavily depended upon for both transport and agricultural labour. Peppercorn trees at the corner of Station and Brooklyn roads have been associated with a horse trough installed there to provide a drink to workhorses carting produce to the chaff mills and railway station south of Melton.20 Breeders, trainers and harness drivers in the area later became such an influential force in the equine industry that this came to be a defining aspect of the district’s identity and reputation.Pioneer of the Victorian horse racing industry and early Rockbank squatter William Cross Yuille was one of the earliest importers of stud racehorses in the district in the 1850s. A leading sports editor and writer, Yuille established bloodstock auctioning agency W. C. Yuille & Co. and was involved in the compilation of the first Australian Stud Book, which ensures the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia. According to early Melton chronicler Alexander Cameron, horse races were first organised in the area by Rockbank farmer William Keating. Keating owned racehorses of his own, and many brought horses from Melbourne for the events, which ‘drew large gatherings’.22 Melton Racing Club meetings were held on the Exford Estate with the permission of H. W. Staughton, who built a small wooden grandstand in 1882. Other early races and sports meetings are said to have been held in the vicinity of the current-day Melton golf course.23 An 1884 article reported that Melton’s ‘race programme … equals any put forth by country towns of far greater size’. Ernest Clarke was another important figure in the early horse racing industry in Melton. He established the Melton Stud in 1902, which bred numerous successful racehorses. Perhaps most notably The Welkin, one of the most famous stallions in Australian horse racing in the early twentieth century. The Welkin sired Gloaming, bred by Clarke at the Melton stud in 1915 and one of Australia’s greatest champion racehorses. During a long and prestigious career in both Australia and New Zealand, Gloaming achieved a triumphant 57 wins out of 67 starts and won a record amount of prize money. Ken Cox purchased the Stockwell Stud in Diggers Rest in 1957 and developed it into one of the largest and most renowned thoroughbred breeders in Australia. With its top-class facilities, international design standards and scientific methods, Stockwell became ‘the flagship of the Victorian breeding industry’.26 As well as racing studs, numerous trotting tracks were established on the flat plains around Melton in the 1960s.27 Other studs to play a leading role in the development of Melton as thoroughbred country were Cornwall Park and Merrywood at Toolern Vale, St John’s Lane Stud at Diggers Rest and Birchwood, Teppo Park and Dreelburn in the far north-east of the shire, near Sunbury. By 1985, thoroughbred horse breeding was such big business in Melton that the shire council adopted the slogan ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, which was used throughout its promotional material.29 But the slogan contained deeper meaning and was not just about Melton’s great equine industry and thoroughbred champions, the council explained: ‘“Thoroughbred Country” should be seen as a new concept of Melton, as a place where people can achieve the “Thoroughbred” ideal, excellence in all aspects of life’. The aim of the council in promoting ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, was ‘to instil in present and future residents the feeling that this is a place that is better than others. A place to be proud of’. In 1988, Melton’s champion reinsman Gavin Lang won his 176th race of the season, claiming the national harness racing record for the most wins in a single season.The following year, the first Melton Plate was held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, cementing the district’s importance in the harness racing industry. The inaugural winner was Victorys Phil, owned by local Danny Mullan. By the 1990s, Melton had earned the title of the ‘Home of Harness Racing in Victoria’. State-of-the-art, world-class harness racing facility and entertainment complex Tabcorp Park opened in Melton in 2009. In 2011, the Shire of Melton was home to over 140 registered trainers and over 1,200 horses. The municipality’s continuing leadership and influence in the industry today is a testament to the skills, talents and leadership of the local community over its history".Shire of Melton pamphlet of a map and information of the equine industry in Meltoncouncil

Gordon Rothacker died in 2010 at the age of 81. Harness Racing Victoria's (HRV) highest individual award, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, is named in his honour. Rothacker won a record 14 Melbourne drivers' premierships between 1949 and 1973 as well as capturing 10 Melbourne trainers' premierships between 1953 and 1976. He was the first reinsman to land 500 winners on Melbourne tracks, doing so at Moonee Valley in 1987 some 39 years after driving his first winner at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds as an 18-year-old in the inaugural season of night trotting. Awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours of 1972 for his services to trotting, Rothacker was the Caduceus Club's first living legend when inducted in 1995 and has also been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by HRV. He won numerous feature races with the likes of Angelique, Rhett, Gallagher and Raiarmagh Pool and also represented Australia in the second World Drivers' Championship in 1971 in the US and Canada.Red with blue Vrothacker, trotting, gallagher, angelique, showgrounds, premiership, rothacker medal, g rothacker, gordon rothacker, gw rothacker

Charlie Robertson Jnr. Charlie Robertson, a Boort district farmer and trainer-driver, won his first race driving a horse called Black Spot in 1912 when he was 16. He drove many winners in the 1920s and 1930s, some of them trained by his father Charles Snr who had raced horses from the 1890s. He had a top trotter in Fair Admiral, who won the 1929 Victoria Trotters Derby among other races. As his career flourished, Charlie Jnr won with such horses as Lee Voyage, Royal Bronte, Johnnie Bronte, Betty Direct, Bonnie Heather and Leading Style. He was given the Globe Derby stallion New Derby to train by owner Jack King of Quambatook. He travelled to Tasmania and Western Australia with New Derby. In Tasmania in 1935, New Derby won the Hobart and Launceston Cups and in WA in 1936 won two heats of the inaugural Inter Dominion. Among New Derby’s wins were the 1932 and 1933 Ascot £500. He left 147 winners when standing at stud at Quambatook. During World War II one of the few venues for harness racing was Wayville in Adelaide. During this period Charlie made many trips across the border to race. On the commencement of night trotting, Robertson won many at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds with Something New, Village Derby and Midnight News, New Gold, Canargo and Tennessee Derby. A bad race smash on Tennessee Derby nearly ended Charlie’s life, but he recovered. In the 1960s Charlie stood the stallion Convivial, who provided him with many winners. He retired from race driving aged 68 and died aged 87 after more than 60 years in trotting.Yellow with cream starscharlie robertson, c robertson, charlie robertson jnr, c robertson jnr

Alice Laidlaw Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame 2019 Alice McCulloch was born in 1894 at Deniliquin, NSW, and grew up on a huge 56,000 acre property at Navarre, “North Woodlands”, where she learnt to ride at a young age. She soon learnt to jump and would jump the farm fences and only went through gates if she was shifting stock. In 1915 Alice travelled to Egypt as a Red Cross volunteer to nurse soldiers injured in the Gallipoli campaign. The young Alice met and married Adam Alexander (Sandy) Laidlaw of Hamilton and lived at “The Hill: in Ararat. Their son Colin, a successful Ararat trainer /driver, was born on 31st March 1923. One of Australia’s most respected and accomplished female riders, Alice excelled at educating, training, riding, driving, hunting and jumping. Alice rode in the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Tasmania Royal Shows as well as almost every country show in between. She would win the Champion Hack with a horse and then turn around and win the High Jump with the very same horse. Her horse Look Out held the Australian record for a high jump of 7 ft 10 ¼ in at Tenterfield, NSW. She also rode in England. Alice also trained and rode/drove trotters, ridden or in a sulky. She competed and won against the men. In 1929 she won several races with Bazil Bells at country tracks, but authorities refused to grant women licences to drive at the metropolitan track at Richmond so she had to engage men drivers. She won rces against the men at Stawell and Ballarat tracks. Among harness horses that she owned, trained and rode or drove were Mountain Derby, Dane Grey, Wonga Grattan, Plain Grattan, Miss Keewong, and Wong Derby the dam of the Ararat and Mildura Cup winner and later sire, Efficiency. She also trained gallopers, and rode them in races against the men, with a lot of success. Her father owned the 1917 Caulfield Cup winner Lieutenant Bill. Alice Laidlaw died of a heart attack in Ararat in 1947 several weeks after an accident with one of her horses at the Korumburra Show. Her 54 horses were then sold. After she died, the Alice Laidlaw Memorial Trophy for lady riders over 18 at the Royal Melbourne Show was commenced in her honour. This continues.Black and yellow vertical stripes, red sleeves