Three generations Gath Family to lock horns tonight

Three generations of the legendary harness racing Gath family will lock horns for the first time tonight (May 18) at Kilmore.

Master horseman Brian Gath, based at Longlea near Bendigo, will do battle with his son Matthew and grandson Louis Emerson in the in the VHRC Benefitting Our Members Trot.

The trio will handle runners trained by Mattie, who’s stable has been in hot form in recent weeks.

“It’s a very tough field, but he has his team going pretty well at the moment,” Brian said.

“I’ve driven in races against Mattie a few times, not a lot, but it’s pretty special to have Louis in the race as well,” he said.

“The three of them are nice horses.  There are some pretty good ones in the field, but they’ll know we’re there if ours do everything right.  I reckon Louis has got the pick of the drives, though.”

Brian Gath will drive Hold That Gold, Mattie Gath is on Hillside, while Emerson will hand Bella Lucy.  All three are raced by fanatical owners Norm and Joan Visca, who are based at Moama, near Echuca.

See the full fields, click here.

Matthew Gath is focusing his attention increasingly on square gaiters and enjoying a terrific run of success of late.  From his past 10 starters he has had four wins, with all of the victories courtesy of trotters.

Louis Emerson, who is the fourth generation of the Gath family to be involved in the sport, began his driving career in 2022, and combines harness racing with shiftwork at the Costerfield gold mine. He has two career wins and four placings from just 20 drives.

“I’m enjoying it and it’ll be exciting to all be in the one race for the first time,” Emerson said.

“The other two are pretty competitive but I’m a bit softer than they are,” he joked.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink