Gammalite, a striking chestnut colt foaled in 1976, by Thor Hanover (USA) from High Valley was inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Media Association Hall of Fame in 2009, the first year of its establishment, along with his great rival Popular Alm.
Bred by Leo and Maureen O’Connor of Terang and trained by Leo, Gammalite won most of the mainland Australian Grand Circuit and Group races except the Miracle Mile.
He had 179 starts for 94 wins and 53 seconds, with earnings of $1,386,480, becoming the first Standardbred to win $1 million in Australia.
He was driven in 65 of his wins by Terang reinsman Bruce Clarke.
Among his national awards were the 1982 and 1984 Australian Harness Horse of the Year award. He was the 1982, 1983, 1984 Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion. He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships in 1983 and 1984.
Gammalite raced at the highest level for six seasons and won 56 classic races in five Australian states. His Classic Race wins included four successive South Australian Cups.
At stud on retirement from racing, Gammalite sired 107 individual winners.
Gammalite died in 2006 at Terang, at age 30, and is buried at the entrance to Terang's Dalvui Raceway.
Read more: Gammalite (wikipedia)
Read more: Gammalite (Inter Dom Hall of Fame)
WATCH: Elizabeth Clarke accepts Gammalite's induction as a legend
WATCH: Gammalite in Harness Racing Victoria's Legends of the Inter Dominion series
