David Hewitt pictured with daughter Jessica, son Brad and wife Maree following a success with their pacer Extreme Sea. Photo by Club Menangle
Harness racing legend, and quiet achiever, David Hewitt and his family have been named as the 2026 Bathurst Gold Crown Honourees.
David and the whole family, including wife Maree (from the famous Day harness racing family), daughter Jessica, as well as their sons Brad, Sam and Scott, all of whom have found significant success in harness racing, will be inducted as Gold Crown Honourees at the prestigious Bathurst Regional Council Mayoral Dinner on Tuesday the 24th of March at the Bathurst RSL Club.
The Dinner will be co-hosted by the Chairman of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club and Clr Robert Taylor, Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council.
The selection and recognition of a Carnival Honouree has been a key component of the Carnival since 1990.
Honourees are selected as those people who have made an outstanding life-long contribution to the harness racing industry in general, and the Gold Crown Carnival in particular.
A full list of previous Honourees (seen below) includes industry legends such as Kevin Newman, Tony and Steve Turnbull, Chris Alford, Mick Lombardo, Jack Honan and the Jack family.
David Hewitt’s brother Bernie and his wife Cath were also selected as deserved Honourees in 2019.
Club Chairman Wayne Loader said the club was delighted that David and his family had accepted the Club’s invitation to become this year’s Honourees.
“David Hewitt and his whole family represent all that is good in our industry.” Loader said
“They are genuine, hardworking people who get a great deal of joy from harness racing in general and our carnival in particular.
“When you come along to the dinner and find out about their contributions not just to the industry but to the communities in which they live, I know everyone will say they are truly worthy of being included in our list of carnival Honourees,” Loader concluded.
For More Information – Joel Fowler – GM Bathurst Harness Racing Club – 6333 5000
Previous Bathurst Gold Crown Honourees
1990 - Mr Jimmy Caffyn
1991 - Mr Kevin Newman
1992 - Mr George Gath
1993 - Mr Jack Honan, Mr Bill Wise and Mr Noel Simpson
1994 - Mr Tony Turnbull
1995 - Mr Don Clough
1996 - Mr Brian Hancock
1997 - Mr Ken Dyer
1998 - Mr Harry Pearce
1999 - Mr Mick Lombardo
2000 - Mr John Tapp
2001 – Mr Wayne and Mrs. Anne Lamb
2002 – Dennis Wilson
2003 – Ken Brown AM
2004 – Bob McArdle
2005 – The Jack family
2006 – The Manning family
2007 – The Dumesny family
2008 – Chris Gray
2009 – Steve Turnbull
2010 – The Fitzpatrick family
2011 – Jayne Davies and Noel Alexander
2012 – The Hando Family
2013 – Doug and Janet Moore
2014 – John Coffey
2015 – Chris Alford
2016 – The McCarthy Family
2017 – Kevin Thompson
2018 – Peter and Marie Neil
2019 – Bernie and Cath Hewitt
2020 – Colin and Cheryl McDowell
2021 – Bernie Kelly and Bruce Harpley
2022 – Michael Formosa
2023 – The Davis Family
2024 - The Gibson Family
2025 - Leon and Eugene Bennetts
