Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 1999 Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley over 2060m at a mile rate of 1.58.6. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Frosty Lady 2nd and Ok Rock NZ 3rd.Punch Bowl Set TrophyAustralian Oaks / Moonee Valley / Saturday 7 August 1999 / "Mother Courage"trophy, harness horse, mother courage, australian oaks, 1999, moonee valley, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1988 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1) Mother Courage won the 1999 Victoria Oaks at Ballarat over 2170m at a mile rate of 1.58.7. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Lombo Rapida 2nd and Jilliby Magic 3rd. Cup Shaped Trophy on a Wooden BaseCampbells Cash & Carry / Victoria Oaks / Ballarat / Saturday 1 May 1999 / Won by "Mother Courage"trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1999, victoria oaks, ballarat, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1) Mother Courage tied for the 2002 Lawn Derby Award for Australian Aged Pacing Mare of the Year with Five Star Comfort. 2002 Season record: 6 wins 6 seconds 3 thirds 22 starts $84,800 1.56.9 Ladyship Cup/ Bendigo Pacing Cup/ Angelique Club Cup/ Mildura Qantaslink FFA.Wooden PlaqueTop: 2002 / Australian Harness Racing Awards / Lawn Derby Award / Aged Pacing Mare of the Year (Tied) / * Mother Courage * Bottom: Supplied by Renown Silverware Tel (03) 9486 2688trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 2002, australian harness racing awards, lawn derby award, renown silverware, award, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 1999 Gold Chalice 3yo Fillies race at Moonee Valley over 2060m at a mile rate of 2.04.5. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Jilliby Magic 2nd and Dame Rainbow 3rd.Cup Shaped Trophy on a Wooden BaseGold Chalice / 3yo Fillies / Moonee Valley Saturday 19 June 1999 / Won by / "Mother Courage" / Proudly donated by the / Victorian Standardbred Breeders & / Studmasters Associationtrophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1999, moonee valley, gold chalice, 3yo fillies, victorian standardbred breeders & studmasters association, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore(2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 2000 Silver Chalice at Moonee Valley over 2060m at a mile rate of 1.59.1. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Lombo Rapida 2nd and Jilliby Magic 3rd.Cup Shaped Trophy on a Wooden BaseSilver Chalice / Moonee Valley 4 March 2000 / Won by / "Mother Courage" / Proudly donated by the / Victorian Standardbred Breeders & Studmasters Associationtrophy, harness horse, mother courage, moonee valley, victorian standardbred breeders & studmasters association, 2000, silver chalice, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 1999 Oceania El Dorado 3yo Fillies Final at Moonee Valley over 2060m at a mile rate of 2.00.1. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Surstromming 2nd and Pumpkin 3rd.Chest Shaped Trophy on a Wooden BaseOn Chest: Oceania El Dorado Final 3yo Fillies / Moonee Valley / Saturday 24, 1999 On Stand: El Dorado On Base: Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, moonee valley, 1999, oceania el dorado, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer: B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)1999 SB&SA Award won by Mother Courage and Breeder: Castle Family Pty Ltd Silver V Shaped Trophy on a Wooden Base"Mother Courage" / 1999 Australian Oaks G.1 / 1999 Victoria Oaks G.1 / Breeder: Castle Family Pty Ltd trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1999, sb&sa, castle family pty ltd, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1) Mother Courage won the 1999 Hamilton Vicbred Final (Won Heat at Horsham) at Hamilton over 2150m at a mile rate of 2.00.2. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Childers Next 2nd and Magic Maiden 3rd. Glass Clock Trophy on a Wooden BaseVicbred / Carlton Draught Hamilton / Vicbred Final / 6 January 1999 / Won by Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1999, vicbred, carlton draught hamilton, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next )) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 2002 Ladyship Cup at Moonee Valley over 1609m at a mile rate of 1.56.9. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Candyrama 2nd and Her Sparky Self 3rd. Two Handled Cup Shaped Trophy with Lid on a Wooden BaseLadyship Cup / Moonee Valley / Saturday 4 May 2002 / Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 2002, ladyship cup, moonee valley, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, b morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P 1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 Tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 2002 Bendigo Pacing Cup at Bendigo over 2415m at a mile rate of 1.59.4. Driven by JJ Caldow. Defeating Wally Walton 2nd and All For One 3rd. Two Handled Cup Shaped Trophy on a Wooden Base2002 / Moama Bowling Club / Bendigo / Pacing Cup / Saturday 23 March 2002 / Won by Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 2002, bendigo, pacing cup, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan

Mother Courage (Stoneridge Scooter Imp P 1.50.8 - Talk To Me Vic P1.59.6 (What's Next)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1995 (3rd Foal) Breeder/Owner: Castle Family Pty Ltd. Trainer B Morgan. Mother Courage raced from 1998 (2yo) through to 2003 (7yo). Career: 30 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 81 starts $462,520 1.56.9 Winning Drivers: JJ Caldow (27) BR Gath (3). Won on 8 tracks: Moonee Valley (14) Ballarat (6) Bendigo (2) Horsham (2) Maryborough (2) Kilmore (2) Hamilton (1) Mildura (1)Mother Courage won the 1998 Vicbred Super Series 2yo Fillies Final (Group 2) at Moonee Valley over 1940m at a mile rate of 2.04.9. Driven by BR Gath. Defeating Lombo Adreamin 2nd and Skips Daughter 3rd. Gold and Silver Trophy on a Wooden BaseVicbred / Super Series / Final / 2yo Fillies / Moonee Valley / Saturday 8 August 1998 / Won by Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1998, vicbred super series, moonee valley, 2yo fillies, jj caldow, john caldow, bruce morgan, br gath, brian gath, b gath

Our Marvin won a race at the Wedderburn Trotting Meeting in 1928Two Handled Cup Shaped TrophyPresented by / William Galloway Esq / Won by / D H Prince with / Our Marvin / Wedderburn Trotting Meeting / October 24th 1928. Bottom underneath Trophy: Paramount Plate / Best EPNS / Quality Plate / Warranted Hard Solderedtrophy, harness horse, our marvin, 1928, wedderburn trotting, dh prince, william galloway, paramount plate

Jack Hargreaves drove Adaptor to win the 1969 Bendigo Cup. Jack Hargreaves, who died on December 6 at the Bendigo Hospital aged 77, trained and drove countless winners during a 34-year harness racing career in which he became one of the true icons of the sport. Born John Henry Hargreaves in Wedderburn on December 3, 1926, harness racing was always in his blood. His father, Hughie, was a successful driver and trainer who raced horses all over Victoria. Jack drove his first winner at the age of 16 at Woodend. He lived on the family farm at Kuracca, near Wedderburn, until the age of 22, when he then married Elvie Stephenson from Fentons Creek. He and Elvie went on to have four children - Helen (now 53), Judi (51), Roslyn (49) and John (45). They are grandparents of 15 and great-grandparents of two. After spending two years at Tallarook where he worked on a sheep property, Jack and Elvie then moved to Korong Vale, where Jack set up his own training stable. He kept about 20 horses at a time at his Korong Vale stable, training and racing all of them for 26 years at his property. His greatest moment was the 1969 Miracle Mile, when he drove Adaptor to victory. Adaptor would later be sold to America for the then highest figure paid for an export horse - about $250,000. He also notched up many wins in country pacing cups, including Bendigo, Geelong, Maryborough, Kilmore and St Arnaud. During his career, Jack built a reputation of being a fine judge of pace and he consistently brought out the best in some difficult horses. His natural ability led to him being crowned Bendigo's leading driver for the season on two occasions. But an accident at Mildura on November 26, 1976 - just days before his 50th birthday - led to his driving career being cut short prematurely. Jack sustained head injuries after he was trampled by another horse after being tipped out of his sulky while driving Go Ned. He was regaining his senses and sitting up in the middle of the track when the horse went straight over him. The hoof of the horse came down between his left ear and skullcap, shattering that part of his skull. In the weeks following the accident, Jack underwent lengthy operations in Melbourne, to firstly clear splinters of bone from his brain. He then had a piece of bone removed from one of his ribs to cover a hole in his skull. He was left with injuries that were described as being similar to those of a person who had suffered a stroke. Months of physiotherapy and speech therapy followed in Melbourne and later Bendigo, before he was finally allowed to go hone in August, 1977 - almost one year after the accident. After losing part of his speech in the accident, Jack learned to communicate using his hands. "It became second-nature to us that we could read his hand signals and most of the people in the harness racing world could, too," Jack's daughter, Judi Bond, said."He learned his own way to communicate with people."While Jack was no longer able to continue his passion of driving competitively, he would still take the reins at the training track when given a chance to by his fellow drivers.He also continued to breed horses. "He was a skilled horseman, a good farrier and horses were the love of his life," Judi said. Two years after the accident, Jack and Elvie built a house in Wedderburn, directly above the trotting track. "That was so in the early days after his accident he could still see what was going on at the track," Judi said. "Everyday, he would watch the trainers . . . he'd watch what they were up to on the track."Jack was able to sit in his loungeroom and look out through large glass doors with a "grandstand" view of Leg 5 races, trials and training at the trotting track. Jack's love of harness racing filtered through to his children, with both Judi and John having careers as drivers. Judi drove for 10 years, finishing in 1978, but she continues to breed horses. Judi won the first women's race where bets were allowed to be made when she drove Youdini to victory at the Melbourne Showgrounds track in 1974.Blue with yellow vertical panelbendigo cup, adaptor, horse, jack hargreaves, bhrc, bendigo harness racing club, lords raceway, j hargreaves

Graeme Morgan wore these colours when driving Lord Muckalee to win the 1986 Bendigo Pacing Cup.White with brown diamonds, yellow sleevesgj morgan, graeme morgan, truant armagh, brad adios, lord muckalee, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing

Photo Finish shows Kalama's Peak winning the Penrith Handicap (2.19 or better) at Harold Park NSW on 17 December 1965 defeating Smart Set (2nd) and Tradran (3rd). Driven by Merv Adams. Distance 13 furlongs 98 yards. Started from a 24 yard handicap. Mile Rate 2.10.0. Kalama's Peak won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 8 March 1965 defeating Future Raider (2nd) and Chief Cloud (3rd). Driven by JP Moore. Kalama's Peak was owned by RJ Webster, was trained and driven in Australia by JP Moore, K Raw and M Adams. Kalama's Peak raced from 1962 (2YO) through to 1966 then raced in US from 1966 until 1968 (8YO). Career: 23 wins 8 seconds 6 thirds 88 starts.One large black and white photo in a black and white frame. Nilbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, kalama's peak, rj webster, m adams, jp moore, harold park, keith raw, jack moore, merv adams, ke raw, k raw, j moore

Dark blue, red sleeves with blue armbandsdes ritchie, dr ritchie, dean's special, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, trotting, pacing, horses, race colours, harness racing

Bob Conroy died on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at age 88. The Daylesford trainer and brilliant horseman enjoyed a life dedicated to harness racing, which he shared with his wife Pat and their five children, including Glenn, Anne-Maree and Peter, who themselves have combined to drive more than 800 winners. Renowned as an outstanding trainer of trotters, Conroy spent a life training from Daylesford, having been raised in nearby Korweinguboora before occupying the former Daylesford Trotting Club track, from where he would often venture into neighbouring Hepburn Regional Park to educate his horses. A trots trainer, driver and breeder, Mr Conroy’s training successes include Mary Beverley’s win in the 1973 V. L. Dullard Cup, Lincoln Star's win in the 1978 Bendigo Pacing Cup and 1978 Italian Cup, and the Lightfoot Laurels on four occasions (Lucy Lastic 1997, Miss Universe 1999 and 2001 and False Gem on 2008). His greatest stakes win came when Amazon captured the $30,000 Australasian Trotters Championship final in 1984 and then the same year the E B Cochran Memorial Trotters Cup, while notable triumphs also include Mister Everest in the 1990 Chris E Howe Trotters Cup, two Central Victorian Trotting Championships in 1991 (Omaorio) and 2005 (Sutters Glory), the 1996 Coulter Crown with Lucy Lastic, First Signal's win in the 1999 Cranbourne Trotters Cup and then the R C Freestone Trotters Cup with Miss Universe. Other notable performers he trained throughout his distinguished career included multiple metropolitan winners King’s Pride, Eden’s Return, Magic Madge, Minnesota Fats, Hot And Dry, Kyvalley Duke, Speeding Fine, Baltic Prince and Looks Like Me. Bob Conroy’s trotters Bootleg Bert and Margaret Ruth delivered his last trotting wins. Yellow with black Vrb conroy, lincoln star, amazon, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, racing colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing, bob conroy, r conroy

Grey, yellow hooped sleevesgraeme johannesen, g johannesen, true roman, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, horses, bendigo, trotting, race colours, pacing, harness racing

DON DOVE – 2016 Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductee A highly successful trainer-driver, Don Dove had something that most colleagues never had – his own sire. After making his mark early on as a driver, Don began training and driving the progeny of Dignus, a grand-son of Light Brigade he had purchased. Many of its 57 winners he trained and drove himself. The most memorable of these of course was his best-ever pacer, a 1966 colt he named Monara. It won successive A. G. Hunter Cups in 1973 and 74, and many other races – so often with this brilliant beginner going to the lead and then Don playing cat-and-mouse tactics out in front before dashing this son of Dignus away and holding off all comers. Those who may remember the 1972 Inter Dominion Final when Don was having a little holiday, will agree Monara was something beaten into second place that night. Don won many races on his brother Eric’s trotter Just Money, along with Nelson’s Report, Lauries Legacy and Kara Miss, and filled in well when winning the 1965 Warragul Cup driving the great little Macaree, and the 1967 Victoria Derby driving Kelly Kid. When the Victorian Trainers and Drivers Association formed in 1968, he was elected to its first committee. Don is also the father of Trevor and Stephen, both well known horsemen of a few seasons back. In retirement, Don Dove moved to Queensland in 1998 and it was there he passed away in 2014 at the age of 86.Yellow, with green crossed sashesdon dove, d dove, monara, amlin, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing, dv dove

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

Green with three red bandsseb moulton, s moulton, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing, tamboritha

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

KEVIN ‘BOOFA’ INNES By Lucy McCormick Kevin was a member of the celebrated Innes clan from Inglewood, in Central Victoria. “I think the first Innes’ came to Inglewood in 1851. My daughter used to say she can’t marry anyone from Inglewood, because she’s related to them all,” says Kevin. ‘Boofa’ is enjoying some well-earned relaxation on the couch after breaking a kneecap six or seven months ago in a track work incident. Not that it seems to be bothering him too much; he’s got plenty of time to keep up with the trots on television. “I do follow them,” Kevin says. “I don’t miss many, and I do have a bet. I like to sit in the chair and drive a race as much as anyone.” With an illustrious career both as a trainer and in the sulky, it’s a safe bet that Kevin Innes is a more than handy ‘grandstand driver’. His name is associated as a trainer/driver with many handy horses, including Lea Sands, Imatoff and Stormy Morn to name a few. Kevin is typically circumspect about his bigger triumphs, however that doesn’t seem to be what interests him the most. “I’ll tell you something,” he declares, doing just that, “I like winning with the horses that were no good. Some people never get a good horse. Imagine that. Luck is a very, very important thing. You have to have luck to buy a good horse at the sales, to get it going, keep it sound, find a race for it, find and owner and get a draw. And they still make a liar of you.” Funny, interesting or quirky stories seem to be of greater interest to Kevin, such as the time he had a strong chance in a standing start race – the favourite in the race being his only worry. “I told the owner it only had a 20-metre handicap – I couldn’t beat it off that,” he remembers. “So I was leading, waiting for the favourite to run past me. Toward the finish, I heard it coming, and it ran straight past all right – minus the driver. He’d fallen out of the cart and I won the race. Just lucky.” The Innes family have always been heavily involved in one sporting pursuit or another – Kevin himself being a champion bike rider of his time. “My Uncle Roy was a good bike rider, so he dared me to have a go. It turned out I was quite good at it as well.” So good, in fact that for many years Kevin was able to make a living from bike riding, riding the ‘board track’ for many years. “We trained hard. Bike riding was very big back then, we’d train and ride three or four times a week.” Kevin’s riding career spanned four Herald Sun Tours, a Warrnambool to Melbourne and a Sydney to Melbourne race, to name a few. “It definitely gets you in – it was long hours,” he muses. “But like anything, horse racing included, you only get back what you put in. We trained hard. I never drank, and I still don’t. I’ve seen that many athletes, great ones too, brought down by alcohol.” Lucky with injury too, Kevin can only remember a sore ankle – as well as the requisite scrapes and abrasions from tumbles on the wooden boards of the velodromes. He still enjoys watching all the big bike races when he can. “You can watch them race all over the world – France, Sweden, Germany. “To be honest I sit up and watch them with my son and we get just as much of a kick looking at the countryside than anything else. It’s so different to when I was racing.” Betting on the bike racing was big in Kevin’s day as well, and some of the bookies Kevin saw betting on the bike racing, he saw at the Showgrounds betting on the trots on a Friday or Saturday night. “Racing was different back then. There would be twelve thousand people at the showgrounds – they don’t have to come anymore, it’s just as easy to watch it on the TV.” Kevin remembers in those days that drivers had to ‘weigh in’ as well – everyone who drove needed to weigh ten stone (just under 65 kilograms). It’s something he remembers fondly. “I know not everyone will.” Kevin won’t be drawn on the subject of favourite drivers, either. “Look. Driving is different now. No disrespect to current drivers, but you had to think a lot more on a three furlong track than they do now on the bigger tracks. You had to drive with brains. And I really believe that good horses make good drivers. The horses are very good these days. Today’s drivers – your Gavin Langs, Chris Alfords – they’re thinkers, and brains will beat brawn every time. The girls are just as good now too. You only have to look at Kerryn Manning.” A garrulous and popular character, Kevin has trained horses for the likes of legendary Richmond player Jack Dyer, and also spent his fair share of time hosting sportsman’s nights, holding his own with the likes of Ron Barassi. On one such night, they had flown in a light aircraft to their destination. During their show, Kevin noticed their pilot, sitting in the front row, laughing appreciatively. There was one problem. He had a beer in his hand, and was consuming it with some enthusiasm. As the night wore on, the pilot became more and more inebriated, and Kevin became more and more disturbed, knowing that this was the same pilot who was to fly them home when they finished. Unbeknownst to Kevin, however, the flight had been cancelled and the pilot hadn’t told anyone, instead deciding to take full advantage of his client’s hospitality. For now, Kevin is happy living in Inglewood with partner Barbara. Son Grant and daughter Carla aren’t far away (both work at the Bendigo Harness track, and Carla has held both a trainer and driver’s licence). His granddaughter, Barclay Sands, was born on the same day of the demise of their star performer, Lea Sands, and may give the biggest hint yet just how important the world of harness racing is to Kevin ‘Boofa’ Innes. Blue with white yolkKevin Innes embroidered on left side chestkevin innes, k innes, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing

The race colours of the Hall of Fame trotter Maoris Idol. Trained at Marnoo in Victoria's Wimmera by Rick Healy, and driven in all his races by his son Bryan. Maori's Idol (September 1972 – 20 October 2006) was an Australian Standardbred racehorse. He was the first Australian trotter to break two minutes with a time of 1:59.3 on 19 November 1977 at Moonee Valley. Maori's Idol became one of Australia's greatest trotters, with a record 24 successive race victories before placing third in the 1978 Melbourne Inter-Dominion Final. He is still the trotting record holder with 22 wins in a season.He was so superior to his rivals that he may have gone through his career unbeaten had he been placed to advantage by his connections. He was by Ike Frost US (by Adios) his dam was Maori Miss by Grand Monarch. Maori Miss won a heat of the 1966 Inter DominionTrotting Championship and was selected as the Australian Broodmare of the Year in 1977, 1978 and 1979. Maori's Idol older half-brother Maori Monarch won the Victoria Trotters Derby and the Australasian Trotting Championship. Maori Miss has founded a very successful family of her own and is the third dam of Sumthingaboutmaori.bryan healy, ric healy, r healy, maori's idol, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trophies, trotting, pacing, harness racing, br healy, b healy, r mcd healy

Jack Moore, Maryborough trainer-driver won the first Bendigo Pacing Cup with Kalama's Peak. Among the top class horses that he trained was Richmond Lass who won 35 races and went on to win the 1969 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship. The horse was owned by Fred Miller, from Richmond House, Bung Bong, Victoria and driven by "respected local horseman Jack Moore.Light blue with red starbendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing, jack moore, j moore, jp moore