Some of the greatest horses, participants and families in Victorian harness racing were celebrated at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night at the 2026 Harness Racing Victoria Hall of Fame, highlighted by Maori Miss becoming the 13th Legend in Hall of Fame history and the first broodmare to receive the honour.
Maori Miss received the Hall of Fame’s highest honour for an extraordinary legacy both on the racetrack and at stud.
After beginning her career as a pacer, she became a high-class trotter before establishing one of the most influential maternal families in Australasian trotting. A three-time Australian Broodmare of the Year, her progeny included fellow Hall of Fame Legend Maori’s Idol, while her remarkable bloodline continued through champions including Noopy Kiosk and Inter Dominion winner Sumthingaboutmaori, to the modern-day superstar of the trotting ranks, Keayang Zahara.
Three champion horses from different eras, Royal Gaze, Sokyola and Sundons Gift, were also inducted.
Royal Gaze was Victoria’s flagbearer through the 1970s, winning 49 races including the 1975 A.G. Hunter Cup and competing in four consecutive Inter Dominion Grand Finals.
Two-time Australian Harness Horse of the Year Sokyola’s outstanding career included successive Miracle Miles, a Victoria Cup and a record 29 victories at Moonee Valley.
Champion trotter Sundons Gift won two Inter Dominions and four Australian Grand Prix, was three times Australian Trotter of the Year and retired as the richest Australian-trained trotter in history. He also took Australian trotting to the world stage, competing against the best in Sweden’s famed Elitloppet.
The three human inductees were breeder John Coffey and trainers Noel Alexander, Jayne Davies and Andy Gath.
Gath joined father Neville and grandfather, Hall of Fame Legend George Gath, following a training career which has surpassed 3000 winners and featured champions La Coocaracha, Tornado Valley and Catch A Wave.
Alexander and Davies were honoured for a decades-long training partnership synonymous with the famous “Green Team” and champions Golden Reign and Tailamade Lombo.
While renowned breeder and bloodstock authority Coffey was recognised for more than 50 years of influence on the breeding industry.
The Clarke, Simons and Mahar families became the latest Heritage Family inductees, recognising contributions to Victorian harness racing spanning generations and more than a century.
Race caller Dan Mielicki was acknowledged by Harness Racing Australia with the Joseph Coulter Meritorious Service Award, recognising more than three decades of outstanding contribution to harness racing and the media.
Paul Rowse received the Distinguished Service Award for almost 30 years in harness racing administration, including two decades leading the Ballarat and District Trotting Club.
AWARDS
Hall of Fame – Legend Maori Miss
Hall of Fame – Horse Sundons Gift
Hall of Fame – Horse Royal Gaze
Hall of Fame – Horse Sokyola
Hall of Fame – Participant Andy Gath
Hall of Fame – Participant Noel Alexander & Jayne Davies
Hall of Fame – Associate John Coffey
Hall of Fame – Heritage Family Clarke Family
Hall of Fame – Heritage Family Simons Family
Hall of Fame – Heritage Family Mahar Family
HRA Joseph Coulter Meritorious Service Award – Dan Mielicki
HRA Distinguished Service Award – Paul Rowse
