The harness racing industry is mourning well-known Victorian owner/trainer/driver Geoff Senior, who sadly passed away on Thursday, January 29 at the age of 87.
Geoff had been hooked on the sport after attending a meeting at the old Healesville track back in the early sixties and after being introduced to Kew trainer Dick Gibbs, whom he formed a strong friendship with.
Dick had a very smart mare by the name of Lassie McTavish, who was a regular winner at the Melbourne Showgrounds during the halcyon days when the sport prospered with massive crowds each week.
Geoff grew up in Box Hill and was involved in the sport by jogging a headstrong mare by the name of Noble Star for briquette and coal dealer Bill Wright. He even drove her at the Gower Park (Preston) trials.
He later leased a handy pacer by the name of Spring Deed, who won a two-year-old race at Cranbourne when trained by Gibbs and driven by Garry McMahon. She was a very smart horse who he would swim in the Yarra River in close proximity to Warringal Park (Heidelberg) to improve her fitness.
Moving to North Croydon in 1972, Geoff established stables and a jog track, and sought advice from Gordon Rothacker and others on the running of such.
At this stage, he commenced annual trips to Tweed Heads in NSW and often sold horses to continue their careers in Queensland.
With so much demand from owners and trainers, he had a five-horse truck built which eventually became the start of ‘Senior Horse Transport’. This was mainly driven by sons John and Ian.
When visiting well-known breeder of the time Hec Nelson at Cressy in 1973, Geoff was shown a weanling colt by Delvin Dancer from Noble Star for which he paid a deposit of $500 with a further $500 to be handed over when collecting the youngster. This became Geoff’s top trotter Hec’s Hope, who was to compete in the 1979 (Christchurch) Inter Dominion and would set a track record at Moonee Valley.
Other horses of Geoff’s that come to mind are Noble Genius (NSW Trotters Derby), Vendors Boy, Beryls Prince, Lots Of Kings, Jaimie Low, Top Limit, Reformist, Bottled In Scotland, Stormy Dual and Icicle, who proved his last winner. He also received great enjoyment seeing his sons race Edacity and Newcastle Cup winner Mendacity.
Geoff joined the committee of the Healesville Trotting Club in the late seventies, which was later to become the Yarra Glen Harness Racing Club in 1986.
Relocating to a 60-acre property at Coldstream in 1980, Geoff and sons John and Ian trained a team of 8-12 horses while also running Coldstream Produce.
Geoff also did many things during his life apart from the horses. He once bought a motel in Yea and after purchasing a mini-bus, conducted tours to the Wimmera/Mallee area for senior citizens and pensioners.
This led to him taking tours to Tasmania, which proved very popular.
Geoff was involved with numerous harness bodies over the years, including being the secretary of the Heidelberg Trotting Association, which used to have trials at Warringal Park on occasions and a gymkhana at times in the seventies to raise money for the Austin Hospital, which made him a Life Governor.
He was elected to the Trotting Control Board in 1979. Other board members at the time were Chairman Tim Walsh, Reg Withers and Ron Anderson.
He also represented HRV on the Appeals Tribunal.
Geoff was a committee member of the Healesville Trotting Club, Croydon Light Trotting Club, Yarra Glen Harness Racing Club (president) and Warrnambool Harness Racing Club (president).
Another position was as a long-serving member of the now-defunct Metropolitan and Country Association and the Victorian Country Clubs Association.
Geoff had been based in various Victorian areas including Coldstream, Yea and Koriot where he passed.
Geoff is survived by wife of 70 years Lauris, sons Robert, John, Ian and Wayne, and daughters Laurisanne and Janette.
Geoff’s love of horses and the trots has been great for the family and he will be sadly missed in trotting circles.
Harness Racing Victoria Chairman Bernard Saundry, on behalf of the entire industry, extends his sincere condolences to Geoff’s family and friends at this sad time.
His funeral will be held at the Eastern Park Chapel, 271 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool on Wednesday, February 4 at 2pm.
