Born at Maldon in 1907 to a family farming at nearby Shelbourne, George was one of eight children, six of them boys.
His brothers Albert, Trevor and Norman later became successful trainer/drivers.
Drought forced them to move to Kerang and later Gunbower.
George first rode ponies at picnic races while still at school, then competed as a jockey at local race meetings. He tried out in Melbourne as an apprentice jockey but his weight forced him to return to Gunbower.
He acquired a trotter, Edna Direct, from his uncle. She was his first winner at a Tongala Cup meeting in 1927.
He moved to Footscray where he became the stable driver for successful trainer Jack Rousch. He took Edna Direct with him and had his first metropolitan win at Richmond.
Rousch trained Paddy McKinney, regarded by George Gath as the best trotter he ever drove. Together they won eight races at Richmond.
George commenced training his own stable, based at Port Melbourne, and later moved to farm and train at Deer Park.
By the 1950s he had driven more winners than any previous in Victorian harness racing. He won six Victorian driving premierships, four Melbourne driving premierships, two Adelaide premierships and was beaten by a victory in a Sydney drivers’ premiership.
In addition, George won four Melbourne and three Adelaide trainers’ premierships as well as training and driving Tara Meadow to record the first two-minute mile in Victoria.
George trained many great horses, including the trotters Paddy McKinney, Bingen Redmond, Carlottas Pride, Corop McElwyn, Rodillo Bronze and Delvin Dancer. No less than 14 of his 17 Derby wins were with trotters.
Among his best pacing winners were Joy’s John, Heroic Action, Gyro and Tara Meadow.
George had a licence for 52 years before retiring aged 71 in 1979.
The Gath dynasty continues. His sons Neville and Brian won Melbourne driving premierships and have joined him in the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame. His grandsons Mathew and Andrew compete successfully.
George Gath passed away in 1997.
Click: Watch Gyro winning the 1964 NSW Pacers Derby
Watch: Interview with George Gath (1964) by Bill Collins and Bryan Martin
