Veterans race puts legends in the limelight

Shortlisting the lineup for a race between Victoria’s leading legendary drivers probably isn’t a task for the faint-hearted – but for Bendigo Harness Racing Museum’s Noel Ridge finalising the Oxley Feed Mill Veteran Driver Race is one of the highlights of the year.

Bringing together on the track the famous – and infamous – driving legends of yesteryear for a $10,000 trotting feature race is one of the spectacles of the Bendigo Harness Racing calendar, and driver nominations are now being invited.

“COVID has meant we haven’t been able to hold the Veteran Driver race since 2019,” Ridge said.

“We could have held it at a regular meeting this year, but it just wouldn’t have been the same without a crowd, and without families, because that’s what it’s all about, the people and the honor and the memories,” he said.

“We’re expecting now we’ll be able to hold it early in the New Year, sometime after our Cup in January.”

Drivers eligible for inclusion need to be current drivers, and fit one of the criteria of age (over 60 for men, over 50 for women); having driven at the Showgrounds; having driven in the 1970s or before; or having won a major title, such as an Interdominion, Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup, NZ Cup or Victorian Country Cup race.

The club also reserves a 10th pick as a “club selection”, allowing the club to pick someone who doesn’t quite tick all the boxes, but is still a “legend” of the sport.

“We get the printout from HRV of all the drivers who are eligible on an age basis and we go from there,” Ridge said.

“Ginger Gleeson absolutely loves it; Debbie Wicks-Moss, one of the pioneering women at Menangle, has been in the race. We wouldn’t dare leave out Brian Gath of course, and likewise Jim O’Sullivan, with his Interdominions,” he said.

“Of all of the eligible drivers, Noel Shinn has driven the most at the Showgrounds. And then there are others, Bob Kuchenmeister for example, Boris Devcic from Mildura, they’ve all got terrific histories in the sport.

“Some drivers were sensational youngsters from back in the days before juniors got any concessions at all and were just thrown in the deep end. Jeff Cakebread was one and Glenn Conroy who was in the race for the first time in 2019. Glenn actually competed in a junior invitation drivers’ race at Greenwood Raceway in Canada when he was 17. He denied he was a veteran, but the records said otherwise!

“To these drivers it’s most definitely a big deal to compete in this race, and win. We didn’t realise, but Lance Justice, who won it last time had actually been canvassing drives for months!”

The winners since the Veterans Race began in 2012 read like a who’s who of harness racing. Keith Pratt, Dick Lee, Graham Whittle, Glenn Williams, Brian Gath (twice), Russell Thomson and Lance Justice.

“The Veterans night has become something a bit like the AFL putting together its past Brownlow winners and honoring them,” Ridge said.

“It’s just fantastic to see these people presented before the race all together on the stage. In previous years we’ve had people like Jim O’Sullivan, (the late) Graeme Lang, Dick Lee and others of their ilk all lined up in their colors, it’s quite nostalgic and special, which is why we felt it was best not to hold it while patrons and family members couldn’t be there,” he said.

“The selection committee shortlists ten drivers plus an emergency, and so now that we’ve got the plans back on track, we’d love suggestions and ideas about who should be in the field, especially those who haven’t previously competed.”

Nominations and suggestions can be emailed to the club: bhrc@bhrc.com.au

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink