Gavin Lang News Today

HRV pays tribute to the late Ballarat trainer Peter Tonkin, known for training over 1400 winners including 13 group 1s. Learn about his legacy.

One of Victoria’s most innovative and influential trainers, Peter Tonkin, passed away today on his 70th birthday. Tonkin, the father of master horseman Clayton Tonkin, was a star in his own right, firstly training on the beach at Portland before setting-up a hugely successful property at Smythesdale, near Ballarat. His breakthrough win came with Paris Affair

The Lather Up colt, listed as Lot 339 at the Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, February 25, had a rather unusual start to his life. “We call him ‘Flash’ for two reasons,” breeder and part-owner Jason Gaffney said. “He was a beautiful colt when he was born and secondly, two

John Caldow achieved a significant harness racing milestone when he landed his 4000th career harness racing win aboard Time After Time (Huntsville) at Maryborough. Trained by his wife Maree, Time After Time ($5.50) worked to the lead and despite being pressured mid race the three-year-old proved too strong for his rivals scoring comfortably from Reign

Stillwater, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cowboy football, Big 12 Championship

Busy Victorian harness racing trainer Jason Hackett hasn’t been seen at the races too often in 2023 – but that just made a first-up win with three-year-old Alannah Miki (Always Be Miki) at Melton (Sept 19) so much sweeter. Hackett and his partner Cassandra Troon work full time on pre-training and breaking, but like to

He was once regarded as Australia’s biggest and best-known harness racing punter. But Tom Hogan, fondly known as “Tara Tom”, was also a genuinely good bloke. Hogan, 74, this week lost his fight against illness, and an outpouring of tributes reflect the respect, admiration and love he garnered during a 50-plus years association with the

Cold therapy

The cream rose to the top when country Victorian dairy farmer Nicholas O’Connor landed his first harness racing winner as both a trainer and driver last week. Twenty-three-year-old O’Connor, a third-generation horseman, drove a well-judged race to land the money with Fouroutoffive (Muscle Mass USA) in the 3yo Maiden Trot at Ballarat (August 18). “I

Sunbury-based harness racing trainer-driver Shane Taylor had an inkling that he would go close to getting his breakthrough training victory at the Kilmore meeting last Sunday night (Aug. 13), and he wasn’t disappointed. “My partner Julia wasn’t all that keen on going. I told her that I had a feeling that he wouldn’t be far