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

Copper Way won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 11 January 1983, followed by Doubter and Thor Lobell. Copper Way owned by Mr KM Madden, was trained and driven by TE Demmler. Copper Way raced from 1980 (3yo) through to 1984 (7yo). Career: 25 wins 18 seconds 1 third 65 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 11-1-83/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.02-2/5 / Greg Matthews Photo - Stawell Centre: Copper Way (Hilarious Way - Unreal Flight) / Doubter 2nd / Thor Lobell 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr KM Madden/ Trained and driven by - TE Demmlerbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1983, copper way, te demmler, mr km madden, doubter, thor lobell, ted demmler, t demmler

Ken Pocock won the 1976 Bendigo Cup. with Chapel Elect A broken leg suffered by Golden Square footballer Ken Pocock, while training with VFL team Collingwood, saw the end of a promising football career, but the start of a highly successful career in harness racing. Ken first worked in Bendigo as a horse and cart delivery driver for Symons dairy and Jeffreys bakery. He learned his craft by working with harness horses for veteran trainers Alf Petherick (Glideaway) and Clarrie Long (Great Dalla). Early in his career Ken had Kaye Lois, and the 1965 Moomba Cup and prolific winner Fosmar. He trained and drove standouts including: Peparkee, Chief Invader (1972 Shepparton Gold Cup) Chapel Elect (Melbourne Pacing Cup, Bendigo Cup), Go Van (Ouyen and 3KZ Cups), Game Oro (two Shepparton and two Kilmore Cups). The champion pacer Royal Gaze won 49 races, 17 seconds, 11 thirds including the Shepparton, Ballarat, Ouyen and A G Hunter Cups. Royal Gaze raced in 3 successive Inter Dominion series, winning 5 heats, and finishing third in Perth in 1974. Ken was also a highly skilled stud-master. He was involved in the planning and building of the ambitious harness racing property B J Lodge at Goornong, and travelled to the USA in the early 1970s with B J Lodge owner Bernie Ahern where they selected and bought champion US pacers Kentucky and Hilarious Way and stood them at stud. Ken Pocock won the 1976 Bendigo Cup driving Chapel ElectBlue with yellow arm bandsbendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, bendigo cup, race colours, chapel elect, royal gaze, fosmar, trotting, pacing, k pocock, ke pocock, ken pocock

Henry Bruce won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 9 January 1985, followed by Brad Marlin and Springfield Rajah. Henry Bruce owned by Mr BG Matthews, was trained and driven by NF Shinn. Henry Bruce raced from 1981 (2yo) through to 1987 (8yo). Career: 21 wins 17 seconds 21 thirds 175 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 9-1-85/ Coca Cola Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.03.8 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Henry Bruce (Henry T Adios - Laurel Cleve) / Brad Marlin 2nd / Springfield Rajah 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr BG Matthews/ Trained and driven by - NF Shinnbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1985, henry bruce, nf shinn, mr bg matthews, brad marlin, springfield rajah, noel shinn

Quite Famous won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 6 January 1988, followed by Bag Limit and Tyler Karamea. Quite Famous owned by Mr AT Hunter, was trained and driven by J O'Sullivan. Quite Famous raced from 1983 (2yo) through to 1990 (9yo). Career: 45 wins 24 seconds 25 thirds 181 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 6-1-88/ Bendigo Swan Premium Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.01.1/ Track Record/ Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Quite Famous (Knowing Fame - Shooshla) / Bag Limit 2nd / Tyler Karamea 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr AT Hunter/ Trained and driven by J O'Sullivanbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1988, quite famous, j o'sullivan, mr at hunter, bag limit, tyler karamea, jim o'sullivan

Rowleyalla won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 13 January 1989, followed by Sir Reilly and Riverlea Jack. Rowleyalla owned by K Rivett, was trained and driven by K Rivett. Rowleyalla raced from 1987 (2yo) through to 1992 (7yo). Career: 38 wins 19 seconds 13 thirds 110 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 13-1-89/ National Mutual Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.00.5 /Track Record / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Rowleyalla (National Byrd - Sally Alla) / Sir Reilly 2nd / Riverlea Jack 3rd Right corner: Owned by- K Rivett/ Trained and driven by K Rivettbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1989, rowleyalla, k rivett, sir reilly, riverlea jack, ken rivett

Empire Fella won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 5 January 1990, followed by Rowleyalla and Rufus Young Blood. Empire Fella owned by FA Sewell & SS Payne, was trained and driven by PL Ward. Empire Fella raced from 1986 (3yo) through to 1992 (9yo). Career: 35 wins 23 seconds 19 thirds 181 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 5-1-90/ National Mutual Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.01.4 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Empire Fella (Besta Fella - Dancing Princess) / Rowleyalla 2nd / Rufus Young Blood 3rd Right corner: Owned by- FA Sewell & SS Payne/ Trained and driven by PL Wardbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1990, empire fella, fa sewell, ss payne, rowleyalla, rufus young blood, p ward, peter ward

Stawell Harness Racing Club Inc Booklets stawell

Dark Paul won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 21 January 1994, followed by Cougar and Aston Bow. Dark Paul owned by MJ Hanlan, was trained by AD Peace and driven by Mark Peace. Dark Paul raced from 1990 (2yo) through to 1995 (7yo). Career: 35 wins 22 seconds 5 thirds 90 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 21-1-94/ 1994 SCN TV Bendigo Pacing Cup / C9 or Better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.03.7 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Dark Paul (Paulsboro - Intrepid Pearl) / Cougar 2nd / Aston Bow 3rd Right corner: Owned by- MJ Hanlan/ Trained by AD Peace / Driven by Mark Peacebendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1994, dark paul, ad peace, mark peace, mj hanlan, cougar, aston bow

Thor Lobell won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 10 January 1984, followed by The Guest of Honour and Lassken. Thor Lobell owned by TM Hogan, KF Grivec, G Pardo & S Dove, was trained by RV Knight and driven by SD Dove. Thor Lobell raced from 1980 (2yo) through to 1988 (10yo). Career: 36 wins 17 seconds 16 thirds 114 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 10-1-84/ Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.03-3/5 / Greg Matthews Photo - Stawell Centre: Thor Lobell (Encore Lobell - Coral Thor) / The Guest of Honour 2nd / Lassken 3rd Right corner: Owned by- TM Hogan, KF Grivec, G Pardo & S Dove/ Trained by RV Knight/ Driven by - SD Dovebendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, thor lobell, 1984, rv knight, sd dove, tm hogan, kf grivec, g pardo, s dove, the guest of honour, lassken, bob knight, vj knight, vin knight, stephen dove

Bag Limit won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 7 January 1987, followed by Gosh and Game Oro. Bag Limit owned by ML Falls, AM Osborne, P & WM Day, was trained by RV Knight and driven by Vin Knight. Bag Limit raced from 1985 (3yo) through to 1990 (8yo). Career: 35 wins 16 seconds 5 thirds 71 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 7-1-87/ Swan Premium Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.03.1/ Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Bag Limit (Tarport Skipper - Royal Blend) / Gosh 2nd / Game Oro 3rd Right corner: Owned by- ML Falls, AM Osborne, P & WM Day/ Trained by RV Knight / Driven by Vin Knightbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, bag limit, rv knight, vin knight, ml falls, am osborne, p & wm day, 1987, gosh, game oro, vj knight, bob knight

Aim First won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 4 January 1991, followed by Carden Court and Jocks Regret. Aim First owned by Mr B Devcic, was trained by B Devcic and driven by Gavin Lang. Aim First raced from 1986 (2yo) through to 1996 (12yo). Career: 38 wins 34 seconds 34 thirds 229 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 4-1-91/ National Mutual Bendigo Pacing Cup/ C8 or better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.05.2 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Aim First (Young Dancer - Brahn Beauty) / Carden Court 2nd / Jocks Regret 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr B Devcic/ Trained by B Devcic / Driven by Gavin Langbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1991, aim first, b devcic, gavin lang, carden court, jocks regret, boris devcic, g lang

Lord Muckalee won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 24 January 1992. Awarded First Place after Disqualification of Defoe Lord Muckalee owned by JR & Est GS Monk, was trained and driven by GJ Morgan. Lord Muckalee raced from 1989 (2yo) through to 1995 (8yo). Career: 21 wins 15 seconds 7 thirds 76 starts. Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 24-1-92/ Bendigo Southern Cross Television Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.03.4 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Lord Muckalee (Muckalee Strike - Saint Mary Redcliffe) / Awarded First Place after Disqualification of Defoe Right corner: Owned by- JR & Est GS Monk/ Trained and driven by GJ Morganbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1992, lord muckalee, gj morgan, jr & est gs monk, defoe, graeme morgan

Brabham won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 26 January 1996, followed by Jamyan Prince and Ricky Dean. Brabham owned by Runvs Syndicate, Manager RW Death, was trained and driven by Mark Purdon. Brabham raced from 1994 (3yo) through to 2000 (9yo). Career: 20 wins 19 seconds 9 thirds 79 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 26-1-96/ Ten Victoria Bendigo Pacing Cup / C9 or Better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2400 metres/ Mile rate 2.00.5 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Brabham (New York Motoring - Armbro Speed) / Jamyan Prince 2nd / Ricky Dean 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Runvs Syndicate - Manager RW Death/ Trained and driven by Mark Purdonbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1996, brabham, mark purdon, runvs syndicate, jamyan prince, ricky dean, m purdon

Captain Rufus won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 23 January 1998, followed by Skipper Trust and Low Bronze. Captain Rufus owned by A Gannell, H Manolitis, KR Hyslop & GJ Carey, was trained and driven by Ted Demmler. Captain Rufus raced from 1996 (3yo) through to 2001 (8yo). Career: 17 wins 13 seconds 18 thirds 85 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 23-1-98/ The Sulky Shop Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2385 metres/ Mile rate 2.00.1 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Captain Rufus (Sokys Atom - Hurricane Mark) / Skipper Trust 2nd / Low Bronze 3rd Right corner: Owned by- A Gannell, H Manolitis, KR Hyslop & GJ Carey/ Trained and driven by Ted Demmlerbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1998, captain rufus, ted demmler, a gannell, h manolitis, kr hyslop, gj carey, skipper trust, low bronze, te demmler, t demmler

Anvil's Star won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 24 January 1997, followed by Desperate Comment and No Equal. Anvil's Star owned by RM Cameron & K Kotzikas, was trained by RM Cameron and driven by Ricky May. Anvil's Star raced from 1995 (3yo) through to 2001 (9yo). Career: 17 wins 22 seconds 11 thirds 116 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 24-1-97/ Gerard K House Pty Ltd Bendigo Pacing Cup / C9 or Better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2400 metres/ Mile rate 1.59.3 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Anvils Star (Vance Hanover - Venetian Star) / Desperate Comment 2nd / No Equal 3rd Right corner: Owned by- RM Cameron & K Kotzikas/ Trained by RM Cameron / Driven by Ricky Maybendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1997, anvils star, rm cameron, ricky may, k kotzikas, desperate comment, no equal, robert cameron, r may, r cameron

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

Bag Limit won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 8 January 1986, followed by Quite Famous and Times Run Out. Bag Limit owned by ML Falls, AM Osborne, P & WM Day, was trained by RV Knight and driven by Vin Knight. Bag Limit raced from 1985 (3yo) through to 1990 (8yo). Career: 35 wins 16 seconds 5 thirds 71 starts.Three colour photographs, two small one large in a brown frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 8-1-86/ Coca Cola Bendigo Pacing Cup At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2300 metres/ Mile rate 2.02.8/ Track Record / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Bag Limit (Tarport Skipper - Royal Blend) / Quite Famous 2nd / Times Run Out 3rd Right corner: Owned by- ML Falls, AM Osborne, P & WM Day/ Trained by RV Knight / Driven by Vin Knightbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1986, bag limit, rv knight, vin knight, ml falls, am osborne, p & wm day, quite famous, times run out, vj knight, bob knight

Knight Rainbow won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 20 January 1995, followed by Magic Fella and Its Nero's Fiddle. Knight Rainbow owned by Mr C Price, was trained by NR Alexander and driven by Chris Alford. Knight Rainbow raced from 1992 (2yo) through to 1997 (7yo). Career: 22 wins 8 seconds 8 thirds 85 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 20-1-95/ Jetport Security Parking Ten Victoria Bendigo Pacing Cup / C9 or Better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.01.2 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: Knight Rainbow (Tuapeka Knight - Tina Scott) / Magic Fella 2nd / Its Nero's Fiddle 3rd Right corner: Owned by- Mr C Price/ Trained by NR Alexander / Driven by Chris Alfordbendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1995, knight rainbow, nr alexander, chris alford, mr c price, magic fella, its nero's fiddle, ca alford

The Unicorn won the Bendigo Pacing Cup on the 29 January 1993, followed by Bowral Boy and Guitar Magic. The Unicorn owned by PW Anderson, R Broomhall, KR Loughnan, P Pike, SL Dove & CF O'Dwyer, was trained and driven by Stephen Dove. The Unicorn raced from 1989 (2yo) through to 1995 (8yo). Career: 29 wins 18 seconds 14 thirds 94 starts.Two colour photographs, one small one large in a brown, black, gold frame. At the top: Bendigo Harness Racing 29-1-93/ 1993 Southern Cross Bendigo Pacing Cup / C9 or Better At the bottom: Left corner: Distance 2700 metres/ Mile rate 2.03.6/ Last Half 57.5 / Greg Matthews Photos - Stawell Centre: The Unicorn (Vance Hanover - Significant) / Bowral Boy 2nd / Guitar Magic 3rd Right corner: Owned by- PW Anderson, R Broomhall, KR Loughnan, P Pike, SL Dove & CF O'Dwyer/ Trained and driven by Stephen Dovebendigo harness racing club, horses, race, winner, bendigo trotting club, pacing cup, driver, trainer, owner, 1993, the unicorn, stephen dove, pw anderson, r broomhall, kr loughnan, p pike, sl dove, cf o'dwyer, bowral boy, guitar magic, s dove, carl o'dwyer

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

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

Large black and white harness racing photo finish mounted on brown paper.Written in black ink: Mr C. Robertson's Jnr Stylish Huon Wins Handicap Handicap Trot Bendigo / Distance 6 yds Time 3? / Driven by C. Robertson Jnr / 25/11/1925trotting, bendigo, stylish huon, charlie robertson jnr, c robertson jnr, charlie robertson, c robertson

Race finish photo RichmondLarge rectangular sepia harness racing photo finish mounted on white paper.Written in black ink: Richmond 22/1/1923 / Trotter Handicap / Won by "MacKinney Lass"trotting, richmond, mckinney lass, mackinney lass

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