Glenn Douglas celebrates winning the 2011 Vin Knight Medal
Glenn Douglas has once again become the toast of the industry; crowned Harness Racing Weekly’s Vin Knight Medallist for the second year straight.
In front of a stellar crowd in the Crown Casino’s Palladium Room, Douglas successfully defended his title to be one of the most popular winners of Australia’s most prestigious award.
Despite his professional approach to work, which has seen him climb to great heights, Douglas is widely-regarded as the ‘industry clown’ thanks to his constant smile and playful attitude.
That was obviously to the fore last night, with Douglas’ ‘good time’ persona winning over all attendees.
It was the horseman’s rarely-seen ‘serious side’, however, that made his latest achievement possible.
Enjoying a stellar season, Douglas polled 34 votes to account for Chris Lang and Chris Alford.
By retaining his title, Douglas became just the third horseperson to register consecutive Medal wins.
Kerryn Manning was the first in 2000 and ’01, followed by Gavin Lang in 2003 and ’04.
Lang was successful again in 2008.
In a year that saw him capture his initial Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership, Douglas was rewarded for his consistency by polling votes on 13 occasions.
Douglas began the season with in grand style, earning points in the first seven weeks of the term – a feat never achieved before.
Douglas’ lead was cut down by Lang before votes went in-camera, with the pair locked together on 27 votes.
During the last three months of the season, Douglas earned seven votes to Lang’s five to come away with the glory.
Alford, who was third when votes were placed in sealed envelopes, maintained his position.
The glory belongs to Douglas, however, who received a solid-gold medal valued at $7000 which was brilliantly hand crafted by John Hawke at Renown Silverware.
Hawke’s Renown Silverware also beautifully crafted the silver and bronze medals.
Harness Racing Weekly presented six other awards for the evening thanks to the ongoing sponsorship of Terry Henderson, SEW-Eurodrive, Tabcorp, the Victorian Trainers’ and Drivers’ Association and the Victorian Harness Racing Sports Club.
SEW-Eurodrive’s Rob Merola was on hand to present Kerryn Manning with a $1000 travel voucher for her crowning in the Rising Stars Trainers’ Recognition Award.
Manning -trained performers won 86 races, with 110 placings and $617,744 also to their credit.
Manning finished fifth behind Douglas on the Victorian Trainers’ Premiership and third behind the same horseman on the metropolitan table.
Talented young reinsman Glen Craven was rewarded for his terrific season when he claimed the SEW-Eurodrive Junior Driver Recognition Award.
Winner of 47 races, Craven-partnered stock had a terrific strike rate of a cheque at every second drive.
Merola proudly presented Craven with a $1000 travel voucher.
Prominent businessman Terry Henderson was once again the generous supporter of the Young Achiever Award, which was presented to Greg Sugars.
Enjoying a remarkable season – including a sensational Breeders’ Crown Day – Sugars finished fourth on the Victorian Drivers’ Premiership with 183 wins, which equalled his personal best registered the year before.
Sugars was the only driver to break the $1million barrier on the metropolitan circuit.
Henderson presented Sugars with a $2000 cheque.
In its second year as a member of Harness Racing Weekly’s ‘family’, the Victorian Trainers’ and Drivers’ Association once again presented the Recognition Award to one of the state’s trainers.
Basing the award on a participant outside of the top 10, the VT&DA selected Ross Graham as the winner.
A highly-respected horseman, Graham enjoyed a fulfilling season with his small team.
The Victorian Harness Racing Sports Club also presented a trainers’ award – the Trainers’ Achievement.
Carrying a $1000 cheque, this category was taken out by astute mentor, Paul Rowse.
Talented young horseman Anthony Crossland capped off his best season by being declared the winner of the prestigious Tabcorp Driving Performance Of The Year Award.
Crossland’s effort behind his stable runner The Bohemian to win the Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters’ Derby at Maryborough last July was given the nod by our panel of experts.
Crossland was presented with a cheque for $1000.
One of the major highlights of Harness Racing Weekly’s Vin Knight Medal function has always been the induction of an industry legend to the Hall Of Fame.
Since Dick Lee’s emotion charged acceptance as the inaugural member more than a decade ago, the fraternity has attracted the who’s who of harness racing.
This year John McCarthy was welcomed to the pack in recognition of his lifetime of achievements.
A highly-successful trainer-driver, the Queensland-based McCarthy is best-known for his association with dual Miracle Mile winner, Be Good Johnny.
