Neville Gath with SEW Eurodrive's Rob Merola at the VHRMA Hall of Fame night.
At last night’s SEW Eurodrive Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame Awards evening at Melton, HRV Chairman Ken Latta announced one of Australia’s most famous identities, George Gath, had been elevated to Legend status.
Gath’s elevation sees him join inaugural legends, Gordon Rothacker and Maori’s Idol.
The posthumous honour was accepted by George’s eldest son Neville, who is a Hall of Fame member, who was visibly moved by the honour and spoke warmly about his father and his achievements.
George was a remarkable horseman and remains the only driver to win at Richmond, Ascot, Melbourne Showgrounds and Moonee Valley as well as the first person to win 300 races in Melbourne.
He won six Victorian driving premierships, four Melbourne driving premierships, two Adelaide premierships and was beaten by a victory in a Sydney drivers’ premiership.
In addition, George won four Melbourne and thee Adelaide trainers’ premierships as well as training and driving Tara Meadow to record the first two minute mile in Victoria.
George trained many great horses, including trotters Paddy McKinney, Bingen Redmond, Carlottas Pride and Delvin Dancer, while his best pacers were Joy’s John, Heroic Action, Gyro and Tara Meadow.
The function also saw six inductees to the Hall of Fame, which now boasts 53 members.
The latest additions are pioneering reinswomen Pearl Kelly, record breaking reinsman Chris Alford, the Abrahams family, journalist Max Agnew, True Roman and broodmare gem, Maori Miss.
The overdue induction of Pearl Kelly was a highlight, with photographs and a remarkable life story having the audience in awe.
Pearl Kelly was the first woman to win a metropolitan race against the men in Perth and Melbourne in a time when women were banned in the thoroughbred industry.
At the peak of her career in 1927 officials also banned women in harness racing and it would be 50 years before they were would be licensed again to compete in races against the men.
The attentive crowd included many Hall of Fame Legends and were entertained by the polished MC Rob Gaylard and internationally recognized comedian, Col Elliott.
The Trainers’ and Drivers’ Association, which is an integral part of the Hall of Fame night, presented an award to Cliff Powell and a posthumous one to Neville Clarke.
Also on the evening the Victorian Harness Racing Media Association presented their major award – Bob Cain Distinguished Service - to the “voice of Harness Racing” Dan Mielicki.
Geoff Want, Chairman of Harness Racing Australia presented a number of national awards including one of the Joseph Coulter Awards for Best Book to Peter Collier for “ Manaroa – the People’s Champion” and Harnesslink’s Paul Courts for Best News Story for his piece title “Trigger’s Final Shot”.
Harness Racing Victoria was also on stage to recognize the media with a series of state awards for journalism, radio and television excellence.
The HRV Media Award winners were:
Best News Story (Print or Online): Paul Courts - Trigger's Final Shot (Harness Racing Weekly)
Best Feature Story (Print or Online): Max Agnew - Broodmares Are Not Created Equal (Track Bred)
Best Country Story/Feature: Lucy McCormick - Snake Island (Harness Racer)
Best Radio Feature/Interview: Len Baker - Graeme Lang Interview (Harness Review, 979FM)
Best Coverage of Harness Racing Event: Sunraysia Daily (Mildura Cup Coverage)
Best Current Affairs/News Coverage: Gait Speed, RSN (host Nadia Horne).
Special Commendation: John Peck - Horsham Harness Racing History.
