Maori's Idol (Ike Frost Imp P 2.2.8 - Maori Miss Vic P 2.14.8 Tr 2.10.6 (Grand Monarch)) Bay Horse. Foaled 1972 (5th Foal). Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy & Co Pty Ltd. Trainer R McD Healy. Maori's Idol raced from 1976 (3yo) through to 1982 (9yo). Career: 40 wins 3 seconds 1 third 46 starts $98,820.50 1.59.3 Winning Driver: BR Healy (40). Won on 11 Tracks: Moonee Valley (16) Globe Derby SA (4) Albion Park Qld (2) Kilmore (5) Cranbourne (5) Bendigo (3) Stawell (1) Ballarat (1) Maryborough (1) Hamilton (1) Geelong (1)1978 Australian Harness Horse of the Year won by Maori's Idol. Season 1978 record 22 wins 1 second 1 third 24 starts $64,087 1.59.3 Two Heats Interdominion Championship / Two Heats Qld Sir Clive Uhr Championship / VL Dullard Cup / Freestone Cup / Cranbourne Trotting Club Flying Mile / Geelong All Star FFA.Two Handled Globe shaped trophy on a Wooden BaseAustralian Harness Racing Award / Australian Harness Horse of the Year Trophy / Maori's Idol / Australian Trotting Counciltrophy, australian harness racing award, maoris idol, australian harness horse of the year, harness horse, australian trotting council, bryan healy, br healy, ric healy, r healy, b healy, r mcd healy

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)1999 Lawn Derby Award for 3yo Pacing Filly of the Year won by Mother Courage. 3yo Season record 12 wins 4 seconds 2 thirds 19 starts $219,010 1.58.6 Australian Oaks/ Prelude and Final Oceania El Dorado 3yo Fillies/ 3yo Gold Chalice/ Vic Oaks/ Horsham Oaks Trial/ Heat and Semi Final Vicbred Super Sires 3yo Fillies/ Heat & Final Hamilton Vicbred.Globe Shaped Trophy on a Wooden Base1999 / Australian Harness Racing Awards / Lawn Derby Award / 3yo Pacing Filly of the Year / Mother Courage trophy, harness horse, mother courage, 1999, lawn derby award, australian harness racing awards, 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

Sumthingaboutmaori (Pine Chip Imp Tr 1.51.0 - Maori Princess Vic Tr 2.45 (Entrepreneur)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1998 (4th Foal). Breder/Owner: R McD Healy. Trainer BR Healy. Sumthingaboutmaori raced from 2001 (2yo) through to 2006 (7yo). Career: 31 wins 8 seconds 8 thirds 75 starts $461,499 2.00.9 Winning Drivers: Gavin Lang (26) BR Healy (3) DK Douglas (1) JJ Caldow (1). Won on 9 Tracks: Moonee Valley (10) Bendigo (5) Maryborough (5) Kilmore (3) Geelong (3) Shepparton (2) Cranbourne (1) Horsham (1) Globe Derby SA (1)2000-2001 Victorian Square Trotters Association 2yo Trotter of the Year Trophy won by Sumthingaboutmaori. 2yo Season record 4 wins 1 second 2 thirds 8 starts $14,505 2.05.4Glass plaqueVictorian Square Trotters Association 2000-2001 / 2yo Trotter of the Year / Winner / Sumthingaboutmaori / Donated by Victoria Harness Racing Clubtrotting, harness racing, sumthingaboutmaori, 2yo trotter of the year, victorian square trotters association, 2000-2001, award, trophy, gavin lang, g lang, br healy, bryan healy, r healy, ric healy, b healy, r mcd healy

Maori Miss (Grand Monarch NZ P 2.9.2 - Yendarra Hall NZ - (Loreto)). Brown Mare. Foaled 1960 (2nd Foal). Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy. Trainer G Gath. Maori Miss raced from 1963 (2yo) through to 1967 (6yo). Career: 20 wins 12 seconds 10 thirds 63 starts. 2.10.6 Winning Drivers: G Gath (13) Neville Gath (6) B Gath (1). Won on 8 Tracks: Melbourne Showgrounds (6) Harold Park NSW (2) Ballarat (4) Warragul (3) Geelong (2) Bendigo (1) Stawell (1) Cranbourne (1)Maori Miss won the 1966 Geelong Trotters Cup (also known as G McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup) at a rate of 2-12 1/5, equalling the Track Record, starting off 24 yds over 14 furlongs at Geelong on 13 January 1966 defeating Tamboritha 2nd and Corop McElwin 3rdTwo Handled Cup Shaped Trophy with a LidGeelong Trotters Cup / 1966 / Won by / Maori Miss / Rate 2-12 1/5trophy, harness horse, maori miss, geelong trotting club, geelong trotters cup, 1966, r healy, ric healy, g gath, george gath, neville gath, ng gath, r mcd healy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)1998 Vancleve Trophy for 2yo Trotting Filly of the Year won by Maori's Crown. 2yo Season record: 5 wins 0 seconds 1 third 6 starts $44,150 2.6.2 Edgar Tatlow Memorial 2yo Trotters / Heat & Final Vicbred Super Series 2yo Trotters / Heat Breeders Crown 2yo Trotters (3rd in Final.Globe shaped1998 / Australian Harness Racing Award / Vancleve Trophy / 2yo trotter of the year / Maori's Crowntrophy, 1998, trotter, maoris crown, vancleve trophy, australian harness racing award, ric healy, br healy, bryan healy, br gath, brian gath, b gath, r healy, b healy, r mcd healy

Sumthingaboutmaori (Pine Chip Imp Tr 1.51.0 - Maori Princess Vic Tr 2.4.5 (Entrepreneur)) Bay Mare. Foaled 1998 (4th Foal) Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy & Co Pty Ltd. Trainer BR Healy. Sumthingaboutmaori raced from 2001 (2yo) through to 2006 (7yo). Career: 31 wins 8 seconds 8 thirds 75 starts $461,499 2.00.9 Winning Drivers: Gavin Lang (26) BR Healy (3) DK Douglas (1) JJ Caldow (1). Won on 9 Tracks: Moonee Valley (10) Bendigo (5) Maryborough (5) Geelong (3) Kilmore (3) Shepparton (2) Cranbourne (1) Horsham (1) Globe Derby SA (1)2004 Vancleve Award for Australian Trotter of the Year and Aged Trotting Mare of the Year won by Sumthingaboutmaori. Season 2004 record 6 wins 1 second 0 thirds 10 starts $261,782 2.00.9 Heat and Final Interdominion Trotting Championship / SA Trotters Cup / Australian Trotting Grand PrixGlobed shaped trophy2004 / Australian Harness Racing Award / Vancleve Awards / Australian trotter of the year / Aged trotting mare of the year / Sumthingaboutmaoritrotter, vancleve trophy, trophy, australian harness racing award, sumthingaboutmaori, gavin lang, g lang, br healy, bryan healy, r healy, ric healy, b healy, r mcd healy

Maori's Advice (Garry's Advice Vic P 1.58.6 - Maori Mara Vic Tr 2.9.2 (Bravado Hanover)) Bay Gelding. Foaled 1986 (5th Foal). Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy & Co Pty Ltd. Trainer R McD Healy. Maori's Advice raced from 1989 (2yo) through to 1996 (9yo). Career: 5 wins 1 second 4 thirds 25 starts $26,593 2.03.5 Winning Driver: BR Healy. Won on 3 Tracks: Moonee Valley (3) Geelong (1) Maryborough (1) Maori's Advice won the 1990 The Holmfield 3yo Trotters at Moonee Valley over 1940m at a mile rate of 2.03.5. Driven by BR Healy. Defeating Le Strike 2nd and Random Height 3rd. Won the Heat and Final on the same night/meeting.Two Handled Silver Cup shaped Trophy with LidThe Holmfield / Moonee Valley / Saturday 23rd June 1990 John F Hickman / Trophies & Engraving / 4th Floor, 94 Elizabeth Street / Melbourne 3000 / Ph: 654 6535 maoris advice, 1990, the holmfield, moonee valley, br healy, bryan healy, r healy, ric healy, b healy, r mcd healy

Maori's Idol (Ike Frost Imp P 2.2.8 - Maori Miss Vic P 2.14.8 Tr 2.10.6 (Grand Monarch)) Bay Horse. Foaled 1972 (5th Foal). Breeder/Owner: R McD Healy & Co Pty Ltd. Trainer R McD Healy. Maori's Idol raced from 1976 (3yo) through to 1982 (9yo). Career: 40 wins 3 seconds 1 third 46 starts $98,820.20 1.59.3 Winning Driver: BR Healy (40). Won on 11 Tracks: Moonee Valley (16) Globe Derby SA (4) Albion Park Qld (2) Kilmore (5) Cranbourne (5) Bendigo (3) Stawell (1) Ballarat (1) Maryborough (1) Hamilton (1) Geelong (1)Maori's Idol won the 1978 Cranbourne Trotting Club Flying Mile at Cranbourne over 1 mile at a mile rate of 2.03.9. Driven by BR Healy. Defeating Hilton Adios 2nd and Touch Merchant 3rd.Silver Trophy on a Wooden BaseKevin Harrison Motors / Trophy / Cranbourne Trotters Flying Mile / 1978maoris idol, cranbourne, 1978, cranbourne trotting club flying mile, bryan healy, ric healy, r healy, br healy, b healy, r mcd healy