Gath’s accomplishments equally estimable in their own right

Right now, in purely pragmatic terms, there are few female sportspeople more motivating or meaningful than harness racing’s Kate Gath.

Sadly, and this shouldn’t be the case, athletic achievements are prioritised by popularity rather than merit.

Without doubt the freakish deeds of Victoria’s leading jockey Jamie Kah warrant the worship they are currently being afforded.

The same goes for Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeown, Jess Fox and all of Australia’s other golden girls through the recently staged Olympics in Tokyo.

That being said, Gath’s accomplishments are equally estimable in their own right.

On Saturday night at Ballarat, the girl from Port Pirie with her symbolic smile and organic humility piloted five horses to victory and produced pitch perfect steers on her other beaten drives.

She is the reigning Victorian Metropolitan Driver of the Year and will defend that title this term in staggeringly dominant fashion.

Also, unlike most leading sportswomen, Gath is peaking professionally in her late 30s; an age where many career-focussed females face judgement altogether unrelated from their talents.

In an era where the world is rightly reviewing its approach to how we view women and their contribution to both sport and society, could there be a better role model?

Gath is far from unsupported, of course.

All five of her weekend winners were trained by husband Andy, whose longevity in what can often be a brutal sport can only be lauded as legendary.

She is also the beneficiary of those that blazed this trail and made it possible for Gath to occupy her rarefied role in the current harness landscape.

One woman most racing lovers will recognise, however, is Kerryn Manning.

Well established as the world’s winningest horsewoman of any code, Manning should be a household name.

Those that say they lead the charge on recognition of female feats should have made it so.

Regrettably, the incredible exploits of Gath, Manning and others remain far more marginalised than they would be if watchful eyes were a little more vigilant.

Despite that fact the racing world salutes them, and, in Gath’s case, we eagerly anticipate how far her ride can go.

Romanticising the past is a popular hobby for racing fans.

From a harness racing perspective, older zealots will happily regale younger diehards with wistful stories of how much better the sport was with standing starts and sprint lanes.

Nevertheless, times move on.

On Saturday night at Ballarat, one of few Victorian tracks without an inside exit, seven of the 10 races were won by leaders and five quinellas comprised by horses racing lead-and-trail in transit.

And in the evening’s only stand start, the Hip Pocket & Workwear Safety Coulter Crown, heavily handicapped horses failed to strike a blow.

Some may wish the world would rewind to what it once was, sadly, however, it won’t.