Female drivers don teal pants in support of WomenCan

The fundraising race to $5 million resumes on Saturday night when Australian harness racing’s female drivers don teal pants in support of WomenCan.

The Team Teal movement, launched by Duncan McPherson in Victoria to honour his late wife Lyn, has raised more than $3.1 million to pioneer gynaecological cancer research, prevention and education programs.

Team Teal resumes on February 1, when Melton Entertainment Park’s lights will be at their brightest for the show-stopping Sportsbet A G Hunter Cup and Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star, which will draw many sports fans trackside or tuning in to the Sky Racing and Racing.com broadcasts.

More than 20 of the night’s combatants will be steered by female drivers, including Harness Racing Victoria’s Team Teal ambassadors Kerryn Manning, Kate Gath, Jackie Barker and Ewa Justice, who along with fellow reinswoman Jodi Quinlan will wear special commemorative silks throughout the campaign.

Ewa Justice said representating Team Teal was a chance to “use a sport I love in order to educate, and contribute to something bigger than myself”.

“I have the privilege of representing not only the incredible women in harness racing but also the strength and resilience of those affected by ovarian cancer,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of a movement that brings the harness racing industry together for meaningful purpose.”

Harness Racing Victoria will again donate $200 to the cause every time a female driver wins a Victorian race, hoping to better the 126 victories recorded in the 2024 campaign.

HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said Victoria’s reinswomen were fantastic ambassadors for the sport and Team Teal brought that to the surface each February, as well as raising awareness and money for a great cause.

“Harness Racing Victoria has a profound, positive impact throughout Victoria, including supporting causes each year like WomenCan through Team Teal, the McGrath Foundation through Pacing For Pink, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and the Royal Children’s Hospital on Good Friday,” Isaacs said.

“These causes are always a reminder of the amazing spirit of generosity in harness racing, and Team Teal pairs that with a celebration of female participation, which few sports can rival.”

The campaign runs through to March, with Victoria’s premier Team Teal celebration a WomenCan dinner at Melton on Saturday, February 22, when racing includes the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed trotting finals.

WomenCan Head of Fundraising Bec Weeden said this year marked 11 “incredible years” of the partnership, which was reason to celebrate.

“Team Teal has united the industry to support women in sport and raise awareness of gynaecological cancers,” she said.

“By highlighting the need for better outcomes, we emphasise that the path to saving women’s lives starts with vital research.”

While survivorship has significantly improved for most cancers over the past 30 years, gynaecological cancer outcomes have remained largely stagnant, highlighting a critical gap in progress and a need for continued research. For more information, visit womencanaustralia.org

by Michael Howard, for Harness Racing Victoria