Australian Driving Championship trophy renamed to honour Chris Alford

IT is hard to imagine a more fitting name for a trophy.

When many of Australia’s best harness racing drivers come together in Tasmania on Sunday week, they will be competing for the Chris Alford Trophy.

Harness Racing Australia today confirmed that would now be the name for the prized trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian Driving Championship each year.

Chris Alford has been the defining driver in the modern era of Australia harness racing and boasts by far the most all-time wins of any driver in this part of the world with 8345 in Australia alone.

The 57-year-old showed he was still a major force at the top level with a recent treble at the huge Vicbred finals meeting at Melton on November 22. The wins included two at Group 1 level (I Am Wilma and Hilltop Hugh) and took his career Group 1 tally in Australia to 141.

Alford, a 15-time Australian premiership winner, can add to that with some plumb Group 1 drives in Saturday night’s Breeders Crown finals at Melton, headed by Harperseven (race four) and I Am Wilma (race seven).

He is a clear second on Victoria’s statewide premiership this season with 171 wins, behind only Australia’s premier driver James Herbertson (320 wins in Victoria).

“It’s humbling and makes you feel proud to be recognised with things like this,” Alford said. “I’ve always loved being part of the drivers’ series, whether it’s here or overseas.

“Yes, it’s great driving in them, but it’s as much about meeting new people. I’ve made so many friends from all around the world doing it.

“Even these Australian ones, we’re also so busy these days, it’s rare you can get away and have time with people you drive against or haven’t seen for a while.”

“The Puppet” as Alford is affectionately known, has played an integral role in the nine Australian Driving Championships held since the series was launched in 2014.

Fittingly, Alford won the 2017 series at Elwick where it will be held again on Sunday week. He also finished fourth in 2014, 10th in 2018 and fifth last year.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia