Famous colours flying high again

Astute harness racing fans may well be feeling a touch of nostalgia in the emergence of promising Victorian filly, the aptly-named Heritage Lady.

Goulburn Valley horseman Craig Turnbull says it’s an honor to be racing a three-year-old in some famed colours of yesteryear – red with a dark blue V-worn by a legend of the sport in the late Gordon Rothacker.

“It’s pretty special that’s for sure. When the horse goes out onto the track, you can’t help but notice some of the older trotting people taking a second look at the colours when they realize they’ve seen them, probably many times, before,” Turnbull, of Tatura, said.

Gordon Rothacker died in November 2010 at age 81, but his legacy continues as his colors are now registered by his daughter Judy, who is not only a passionate owner and breeder, but also a member of the HRV Board.

Judy and her daughter Kate are the proud owners of Heritage Lady (Major Bronski-Heirloom Angel (Gotta Go Cullect), who recently won first-up from a spell in impressive fashion and is now being aimed by Turnbull at the Victorian Oaks early next month.

Turnbull said he got to know the Rothacker family when he was private trainer for Kevin and Colleen Bamford, of Doreen, for 12 years.

“We were neighbors with the Rothackers. I would have spent three or four years with Gordon before he died. He would come over and fastwork his horses and he was a ripper fella,” Turnbull said.

“He was fantastic to me. When he started chatting, I just listened, because he had so much knowledge about horses and harness racing.”

Rothacker drove his first winner at the Melbourne Showgrounds as an 18-year-old in the inaugural season of night trotting.

He went on to win a record 14 Melbourne Drivers’ Premierships between 1949 and 1973 and took the Trainers’ Premiership on 10 occasions between 1953 and 1976.

The master reinsman was the first to land 500 winners on Melbourne tracks-accomplishing this feat at Moonee Valley in 1987.

Rothacker, awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours of 1972 in recognition of his services to the sport, won many feature races with such great horses as Rhett, Gallagher, Angelique and Rajarmagh Pool.

Harness Racing Victoria’s highest individual award, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, is named in his honor.

Rothacker was the Caduceus Club’s first living legend when inducted in 1995 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by HRV.

Turnbull has predicted a bright future for Heritage Lady, a winner of three races from just eight starts.

Turnbull and his wife Bec Cartwright are now based at Tatura, where they began developing a property four years ago, and have been followed into the sport by their daughter Abbey.

Driven by Abbey, Heritage Lady’s barnstorming win in the Hunter Rural 3YO Pace at Shepparton on Friday night signalled much bigger things to come for the pint-sized pacer.

The filly was taken off the wide gate back to the rear. The pair waited until the final bend to move out four and five wide and unleashed a powerful run to the line. The mile rate was 2-00.9 (last half 57.9 and quarter 28.2).

“She has a lethal turn of foot when held up until the last 300 to 400 metres. I got told that her last split was timed in just under 27 seconds,” Craig Turnbull said.

“She does go very good, but when she started racing, she was very hard to settle. This time in she has been relaxed so it’ll be exciting to see what she can do.”

Turnbull handled Heritage Lady in her trials and at her first four race starts, including a win at her last start before her spell.

“Abbey has taken over since, and she’s won twice on her now. I’m really not sure how I got replaced, but it’s a tough school here with all the girls!” Turnbull laughed.

“I really don’t mind though. I get a thrill out of watching Abbey go around and she’s doing a great job on her.”

Turnbull said Heirloom Angel, the dam of Heritage Lady, was going to be anything before she was forced into retirement.

“She was a high-quality racehorse, but as a foal she got a tendon sliced and it was always a problem with her. (The late) Gavin Lang used to drive her for me and he really liked her,” he said.

“She won a sires heat and then ran third in a semi at Melton about six years ago, before we had to retire her. Hopefully this filly will be able to do the job for Judy and Kate.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink