There are people in harness racing whose statistics tell only a fraction of their story and Lockington horseman Ted Jepsen, who has passed away aged 91, was one of them.
To generations of Victorian participants, Jepsen was a trainer, a storyteller, a competitor, a mentor, a sportsman and, above all, a man whose passion for horses never dimmed.
But long before he was known around Victorian racetracks, Ted had forged a reputation as an amateur boxer before embarking on a distinguished VFA football career that lasted until he was 41.
He mixed with some of football’s biggest names, including Norm Goss, Jack Dyer and Freddy Cook, and delighted in recounting colourful stories from an era that has become part of Australian sporting folklore.
When his football days ended, Jepsen wasn’t ready to slow down.
Instead, he bought a small property, built a training track and taught himself the art of preparing standardbreds.
“I was self-taught, but if you ask people, you can learn quickly,” he once said.
Together with wife Faye, he became one of country Victorian harness racing’s most recognisable husband-and-wife teams.
After living at Gisborne for almost four decades, the couple settled at Lockington, where they continued to chase their racing dream with the same energy and enthusiasm that had always defined them.
The pair loaded the float and hit the highway to work their horses at Elmore each day – a routine they maintained well into their later years.
“It keeps us young – I often joke I’m 21 going on to 85,” Jepsen joked after preparing maiden winner Wenthestarzzzaline in 2019.
That victory became one of many cherished memories, with the Jepsens proudly taking the race replay along to church the following Sunday so fellow parishioners could celebrate with them over coffee after the service.
“It’s a wonder it’s not worn out – it’s been played over and over,” Jepsen laughed.
Those moments perfectly captured the man so many have remembered this week – someone who found genuine joy in every success, no matter how modest, and who loved sharing it with others.
Friends regularly passed him on the road travelling to Elmore to work horses, where he remained a familiar face well into his 90s.
Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin said Jepsen rarely missed a day.
“It was a 20 to 25-minute drive each way and he actually did an amazing job as his health wasn’t all that good for a while,” Cotchin said.
“Ted was undergoing some cancer treatment, but he would always turn up early and ready to get into it.
“I don’t know how he did it because some days he was as crook as a dog. But he was just so tough and it took a lot of courage to keep going.
“He deserved his wins, that’s for sure. He was always up for a chat.”
Among all the horses he prepared, none were more special to Jepsen than Soho Playgirl, the mare who carried his familiar light blue and white colours in recent seasons and became his pride and joy.
A tribute from the Shepparton Harness Racing Club described him as “one of those people whose passion for harness racing never faded.”
“A talented sportsman, horseman and storyteller, Ted lived an extraordinary life,” the club said.
“His enthusiasm for the trots and the joy he found in working with horses inspired everyone around him.”
Jepsen is survived by his wife Faye, daughter Nikki and his extended family.
Victorian harness racing has lost one of its genuine characters, whose legacy extends far beyond the 51 winners beside his name. It lives on in the stories he told, the friendships he forged and the smiles he brought to racetracks across the state.
“Ted will be deeply missed,” wrote Katrina Fitzpatrick.
“A great fella and a life well lived,” added Shane Gloury.
“Ted was a character, always up for a joke and chat,” Carla Innes reflected, while Scott Allan remembered “many a night just listening to him tell me stories that never grew old.”
Harness Racing Victoria Chairman Bernard Saundy, on behalf of the entire industry, extends sincere sympathy to the Jepsen family.
