With an unprecedented record on the track and lauded off it, Chris Alford has been a popular addition to the esteemed list of Gordon Rothacker Medalists.

Harness Racing Victoria's most prestiogious honour, the Medal since comfortably on the shoulders of Alford, whose hands have cradled almost every great trophy the state has to offer.

Jason Bonnington paid tribute to Alford as part of tonight's Night of Nights celebration, which saw him awarded his medal.

NO single member of Australasia’s tight-knit trotting community completes the checklist of what constitutes a legend quite like Christopher Alford.   

Topping that checklist is sustained success; and no driver in southern hemisphere history has bathed in more success than Alford.   

Staggeringly, the man widely known as ‘Puppet’ is rapidly closing on 7800 triumphs in the cart, more than any other Australasian reinsperson.  

And even in an era with infinitely more annual races than when Alford launched his legendary career through the 1984/85 season, there’s every chance he’ll set a benchmark never to be broken.   

Throw 16 Victorian Drivers premierships, 15 Australian Drivers titles and prizemoney exceeding $65 million into the mix and Alford’s achievements become mind-boggling in magnitude.   

Legendary status, in racing at least, is also garnered by association with equine heroes of similar magnitude.  

Alford was just 24 when partnering Golden Reign to glory in the 1995 Inter Dominion at Addington.   

That’s like beating the All Blacks at Eden Park, which hasn’t happened since ’94, one year before the Puppet and his great mate crossed the ditch.  

Three years later, the great man joined forces with the greatest mare he’s ever piloted – by his own admission – Tailamade Lombo, to many magical triumphs.   

And five years after that, he landed his first Hunter Cup with Mont Denver Gold, who also went perilously close to Inter Dominion glory.  

Next on the checklist is courage and fortitude.   

Throughout his career, Chris has suffered myriad major injuries, though his comeback narrative outshines all his physical resurrections.   

A decade after his debut, Alford secured his first Vic driving title before securing the next six in succession.   

Then, as the power balance shifted, ‘Puppet’ went 11 years without ruling the roost.   

He wasn’t done with, however; and his second coming has been spectacular.   

That second coming began in 2011/12, when Alford nailed his first Vic driving Premiership in more than a decade, and since then he’s landed nine of the past 10 Vic driving titles, highlighted by one magical season where he piloted the most winners in Australian Harness history.   

Only Chris himself, with the passing of time, can personally compare the glories he enjoyed with Golden Reign and those he relished with Lennytheshark.  

There’s little doubt, however, that Lenny’s 2015 Inter Dominion whitewash at Gloucester Park, when the ID was almost on its knees, must have meant the world. 

And Lenny’s breathtaking Miracle Mile win at Menangle two years later, in one of the strongest modern day fields assembled, elevated their association to another sphere again. 

In truth, Alford has enjoyed myriad connections with this sport’s standardbred stars, including the brilliant, untapped Poster Boy, whom he partnered in 18 wins, including the 2019 Miracle Mile. 

Significant as those  partnerships were, however,  they lacked the emotion and sentimentality of Alford’s bond with freakish youngster Wobelee. 

Together, they claimed 24 triumphs, all of which were infinitely more poignant given tonight’s honouree and his wonderful wife Alison shared those successes together.  

Third on the champion checklist is contribution; and few have contributed more both on and off the track.   

No doubt Alford is most proud of helping to launch NF awareness month in honour of beautiful daughter Katie.   

Despite his gruelling schedule and peerless dedication, tonight’s Rothacker Medallist is, above all, a family man.  

And the legend himself would concede, that without the support of wife Alison and the love of his gorgeous children, none of what we celebrate tonight would have been possible.  

They have also made Alford the man he is today.  

Beyond his support of NF awareness month, Chris has supported an extraordinary array of charitable causes as an ambassador for Pink Month and Ovarian Cancer and through his participation in Shave For A Cure and many Good Friday Appeals.   

The final mark of a legend is their commitment to integrity and willingness to mentor rising talent.   

Despite competing in the more than 40,000 races, Alford harbours one of the sport’s cleanest records.   

The fruits of Puppet’s labours and his commitment to being not only ‘best’ but also ‘fairest’ include his 2005 Vin Knight medal and 2018 induction as one of Australian Harness Racing’s Living Legends.  

And, just as the great man was mentored by late father Barry, Alford has always sought to educate and uplift younger drivers, with Josh Duggan, who has been under Alford’s tutelage for 16 years being his most enduring protégé.   

With the legend’s checklist fully filled, Harness Racing Victoria proudly presents your Gordon Rothacker medallist for 2023, Chris Alford.   

ENJOY SOME OF CHRIS ALFORD'S GROUP 1 TRIUMPHS: