Star lineup chasing Veteran Challenge victory

There may be some among their number who balk at the “veteran driver” label, but the much-anticipated Bendigo Harness Racing Club’s Veteran Drivers Challenge is establishing its own unique prestige.

Established originally in 2012 to honor current drivers who competed at the Melbourne “Colosseum”, The Showgrounds and later at Moonee Valley, the race is running under a broadened criteria for the $10,000 2024 edition tonight (Dec 4).

“The challenge has become a celebration of the great and enduring personalities of the harness racing industry,” said Bendigo HRC General Manager Erik Hendrix.

“HRV won’t let me call them legends, so we’ll keep calling them veterans, but it’s an opportunity to honor their careers! Some of these guys are dating back 60 years in the industry,” he said.

“This is the race that makes me a little bit more nervous than any other one in the year because I can see a little bit of white line fever in the eyes.  The Jim O’Sullivans, the Ginger Gleesons and the Glenn Conroys – their eyes light up for this sort of race!”

This year’s list includes first-timers Neil McCallum, Rita Burnett, Ken Tippett and Ross Payne and Hendrix admitted some were a little surprised to receive the invitation phone call.

“Neil said to me he didn’t realise he was getting that old!” Hendrix said.

“But a lot of the Showgrounds history is moving on now and people are getting older, and we’ve got to open up the umbrella to the next generation coming through,” he said.

The formguide to this year’s veteran’s race is:

Ken Tippet

Ken, a former teacher, turned professional trainer after success with Ratz, winner of the 1992 Vic and NSW Trotters Derbies. Part of a racing family, Ken’s career highlights include a Cranbourne treble in 2004. He has achieved 308 wins, 1 Group One victory, and $1.75 million in stakes.

Rita Burnett

A trailblazer for women in harness racing, Rita has been in the sport for over 40 years. From her Kilmore base, she excels in breaking and training young horses. Her top achievement is the 1990 Vic Breeders Plate win with Ossies Hope. She has 725 wins since 2000 and $3 million in stakes.

Mark Hayes

A dedicated horseman, Mark followed his father Reg into the sport. His wins include the 1983 Ouyen Cup and the 2007 Vic Trotters Oaks with Sundons Pride. A Maryborough committee member for over 30 years, he has 563 wins, including 1 Group One, and $2.29 million in stakes.

Ginger Gleeson

A 2019 Gordon Rothacker Medallist, Ginger drove his first winner in 1967. Career highlights include the 1978 Melbourne Pacing Cup and 1988 Vic Sires Stakes. With 542 wins, 9 Group wins, and $2.2 million in stakes, Ginger remains a cornerstone of the industry.

Geoff Webster

A leading South Australian trainer-driver in the 2000s, Goeff represented Australia internationally and later moved to Victoria. His standouts include Flaming Flutter and Mister Swinger. With over 2500 wins, 16 Group Ones, and $951,000 in stakes, he’s a revered figure.

Glenn Conroy

Part of the legendary Conroy family, Glenn excelled as a junior and achieved success with standout horses like Lincoln Star. Recent achievements include training Girls Go First and Fear Not, contributing to his 459 wins and $2.6 million in stakes.

Jim O’Sullivan

A dual Inter Dominion winner with My Lightning Blue (1987) and Yankee Loch (1989), Jim is a Hall of Fame inductee with over 2000 wins and $5.3 million in stakes.

Brian Gath

With over 3600 wins, Brian is one of the sport’s greatest. His career highlights include the 1978 Inter Dominion and the 1992 Miracle Mile. A Hall of Fame inductee, Brian has won this race twice before.

Neil “Pecker” McCallum

Best known for his association with the Joe Thompson trained pacer Imprimartar on whom he won the Group 1 1991 Fremantle Pacing Cup along with the NSW Pacers Derby, McCallum has driven 1582 winners, including two Gr 1s, with $8,559,044 in stakes.

Ross Payne

The only New Zealander in the field, Payne came from a racing family, and was hooked on the sport from childhood. He won the NZ drivers’ premierships before moving to Australia in the late-1990s and has won numerous Group races and listed classics in Australia.

The event has been sponsored since its outset by the Oxley Feed Mill, which ensures every trainer with a horse engaged in the race heads home after the event with a generous helping of hay and chaff – win, lose or draw.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink