Vale Keith Douglas

The Ballarat harness racing community is in mourning following the sudden passing of local icon Keith Douglas aged 89 on Wednesday.

Keith and wife Judy had a large family including champion reinsman Daryl and brother Glenn, a top trainer in his own right, while sister Jennifer was clerk of the course at various tracks throughout the state before later holding a trainer’s license.

Keith and his better-known brother Alex were a formidable combination during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and trained a horse for my father and I at one stage when based in Redan.

From the turn of the century, Keith was involved with horses such as Ima Bulldog (17 wins), Reigning Dollar (10), Orchid City Lad (17) and Wakeham Princess (7).

Keith pottered around with numerous handy horses until a smart trotter by the name of Trottn On The Ritz (17 wins) came on the scene. Then it was Trottn The Catwalk (8) keeping his name in the spotlight.

In recent times, a most promising trotter by the name of Mitchell Wrap appeared. He was successful at Terang on Tuesday night, June 25. Some 15 hours later Keith had passed on.

No one would have ever said a bad comment concerning Keith, who was always in for a chat at the trots which he attended on a regular basis for many years.

Harness Racing Victoria sends its sincere condolences to the entire Douglas family.

by Len Baker, for Harness Racing Victoria