Vale: Stuart Rothacker

Bridgewater’s Rothacker dynasty lost another family member on Sunday when Stuart Victor Rothacker sadly passed.

Stuart, the third son of Victor and Susie Rothacker and brother of Eric (dec) and R. D (Des), was 85 and had a wonderful career in harness racing.

He excelled with horses such as Supreme Report, who was trained by Vic in the Melbourne Showgrounds era and won many races, including the Italian Cup and Harry Holmfield Free For All in 1963.

Rising Flood was another of the team who scored in a plethora of races after transferring from Bernie Clarke in Terang. These included an Inter Dominion Consolation in 1965, and The Maribyrnong Mile FFA and The Shepparton Rising Cup in 1965.

Stuart was the regular driver of a very good trotter by the name of Hilton Adios (trained by his Dad), who was a regular in the winners’ stall during the ’70s including the 1979 Inter Dominion Trotters Consolation.

Others to greet the judge were prolific winner Hilton Bear, Shady Park (1983 Victoria Trotters Oaks), Leo Miss (1984 Kapunda Cup and 1985 McNamara Trotters Cup, Geelong), but it was the very good trotting mare Trinket who brought his name to the fore. Her wins included the Bendigo, Warragul and Shepparton trotters cups, helping her claim more than $100,000 in stakes.

Other handy pacers he was involved with were Copybook, Ata Strike, Motor Olivia and Catacomb Moth, who were all Moonee Valley winners.

After retiring from the sport Stuart and his wife Evelyn shifted to the sunshine of Merimbula NSW in 1992, before going further north to Cairns. They later returned to Merimbula before resettling near Bendigo.

He was a handy footballer while playing for Bridgewater, which won three flags, with Stuart winning the best and fairest award in 1965 for the club.

He is survived by wife Evelyn and siblings Leanne, Stuart (Jnr) and Greg.

A memorial/farewell service will be held at Napier Park Funerals, 420 Napier St, White Hills next Tuesday, December 13, at 11am.

HRV send its condolences to the Rothacker family and their friends.

by Len Baker, for HRV