The Clarke Family inducted into the Hall of Fame
The Clarkes were inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame’s Family Category, which honours those who have excelled in the sport across generations.
The Clarke harness racing dynasty commenced with Noorat farmer John Thomas Clarke who, like many at the time, kept a racing or trotting horse as a hobby. The first recorded instance of him competing was at the inaugural meeting of the Camperdown Trotting Club in 1913 riding Annie Cleve.
The Western District led the way then for trotting horse patronage, with clubs also established at Penshurst (1912), Condah (1914), Cobden (1916) and Colac (1921). At Cobden on 31 March 1917, John enjoyed his only victory in a registered event, featuring as the owner of Irish Emblem.
There would no mention of the family until 1932, when John’s 11-year-old son Bernard Henry (“Bernie”) rode his own pony into third place in two Noorat Sports pony trots, one for under 12s and one for under 15s. Two years later he scored a double there with the same horse.
With the scarcity of racing dates and the advent of WW2, it would not be until 1 March 1947 before Bernie drove in a registered race. His first win was with Bay Velvet at Hamilton on 31 January 1949.
Bernie’s brother Alec preferred the training and administrative side of the sport but made his mark by recording his first victory at the opening meeting of the modern day Terang Trotting Club with Red Taffeta.
Alec’s sons Bruce and Neville were also drawn to harness racing, with Neville’s maiden win being behind Adios Edna (also his first metro winner) on 31 October 1963 at Terang and Bruce’s first win coming behind Peter Pinapetee on 16 January 1967 at Terang.
It was a case of “sliding doors” when George Harpley was seeking a driver for his subsequent Inter Dominion champion Welcome Advice. He was looking for Neville, but he was away. Bernie stepped in and the rest is history. Neville did get to partner with a champion though – Gammalite, who he drove to victory in a SA Cup and NSW Lord Mayors Cup.
Neville won two Terang Drivers Premierships and four trainers premierships. His brother Bruce won the Terang trainers/drivers’ premiership in 1982/83 and their father Alec, who lived to 100 years, was the leading trainer at Terang in 1975/76.
BRUCE & ELIZABETH CLARKE
It was a significant moment in the history of the Gordon Rothacker Medal in 2008, when husband and wife team Bruce and Elizabeth Clarke became the first joint winners.
Bruce is best revered for his partnership with Victorian Hall Of Fame Legend and dual Inter Dominion winner Gammalite, while Elizabeth could very well be the most awarded female in harness racing.
In 2021 she received a Queen’s Birthday honour and her previous achievements include being awarded the Pearl Kelly, being the VHRC Achiever of the Year, and in 2002 the HRV Club Secretary of the Year. She was also acknowledged with a Commonwealth Government Sporting Achievement honour for service to harness racing in 2002, the Distinguished Service Award by Harness Racing Australia in 2018, and in 2020 HRV re-named the annual Mares’ Triple Crown series in her honour.
The Clarke dynasty continued when Bernie’s son Kerry showed exceptional talent and early on teamed with Waitaki Direct to beat the likes of Monara, Reichman and Bold David. Later on, he won the NSW Ladyship Mile with Diamond Debutante.
In 2003, Neville, who lost his wife Patsy to cancer three years earlier, tragically succumbed to inoperable throat cancer, aged just 58 years. Neville is survived by his son John, who won with his first drive Kip Keter at Ballarat in 2000. John later married Jessie Shinn, who had a metro win to her credit, having scored with the trotter Ground Floor in 2000.
CLICK HERE for a list, in chronological order, of every winner the Clarke name has been associated with as a driver and trainer up to and including June 30, 2026. The totals are:
311 Melbourne Driving Wins – 123 Melbourne Training Wins
Bernie Clarke
Kerry Clarke (Abidair – SA Derby)
(Red Taffeta – Terang 6 April, 1953)
Neville
Inter Dominion Glory for the Clarke Boys
1983 Auckland Inter Dominion
1984 Adelaide Inter Dominion
2003 Christchurch Inter Dominion (Heat Win & 4th in Final)
NEVILLE CLARKE – GREENWALD – VICTORIAN MILE RECORD
The most remarkable time trial in history – Greenwald TT1:59.5 at Terang (21-04-1971)
The night was miserable with drizzling rain falling from mid afternoon. Trainer Jack McGrath had brought the horse 120 miles from far Western Victoria for the attempt.
Greenie had run a “trial” at the previous Terang meeting, clocking an unofficial 1:59 4/5. McGrath decided to give the horse a run because he had come so far.
Neville Clarke and others who knew Terang tried to talk Jack out of making the record attempt. But Jack was adamant, “We said we’d try for a record. We must give it a try.”
Neville took the track before the first event wearing the white, green shamrock colours of the late Paddy McEntee, one of the district’s greatest horsemen.
No pacemaker was used. A car was driven round on the inside training track sounding its horn every 15 seconds to give Neville a guide to time. To everyone’s amazement Greenwald “headed” the car at the half way mark. He was literally flying in the cold, slushy conditions.
Coming into the home straight it appeared he would go close to the two minutes. With Neville flashing the whip, Greenwald barrelled across the line to stop the clock at 1:59½.
It was the fastest flying mile recorded in Victoria since the mare Tara Meadow (George Gath) clocked 1:59.6 at Bray Raceway, Ballarat in 1969.