Brian Gath’s legendary career in harness racing has been capped with the sport’s highest individual honour, the Gordon Rothacker Medal.

The man affectionally known as “The Little Master” was the toast of the Victorian Harness Racing Club’s Night of Nights function after being presented with the prized award at Crown Palladium on Sunday evening.

Gath, 77, has enjoyed a storied journey in the trots, with his feats as a driver elevating him to the very top of the game.

While records are somewhat sketchy dating back to his early days, Gath has driven over 3600 winners, highlighted by the 1978 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final victory with Markovina and 1992 Miracle Mile triumph with Franco Tiger.

Gath has steered a century of winners in a season on 11 occasions and won multiple Victorian metropolitan driving premierships. He is also a winner of the statewide training premiership, as well as the metro trainer’s title.

A past Australian representative in the World Drivers Championship in Europe during the 1970s, Gath was inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2013 and continues as a trainer and reinsman to this day.

The Gordon Rothacker Medal is awarded to an individual who meets some or all of the following criteria:

  • Contribution to harness racing in Victoria (past and present)
  • Length of industry involvement
  • Held (voluntary or paid) key positions within the industry
  • Demonstrated excellence within a chosen field
  • Significant personal achievement
  • Service as a role model/mentor
  • Integrity

GORDON ROTHACKER MEDAL HONOUR ROLL

BRIAN GATH

Earlier in the night, champion reinsman Anthony Butt was announced as the newest Caduceus Club of Victoria Living Legend and Daylesford trainer-driver Anne-Maree Conroy was presented the Pearl Kelly Award.

The Pearl Kelly Award recognises the outstanding contribution to, or achievement within, the sport by a woman.

The Graeme Lang Medal for the leading Group 1-winning trainer in 2021 went to Emma Stewart (12 wins), while Chris Alford (nine wins) won the Gavin Lang Medal as the leading Group 1-winning driver last year.

Alford (leading Group 1-winning driver for trotters in 2021), Stewart (leading Group 1-winning trainer for pacers in 2021), Brent Lilley (leading Group 1-winning trainer for trotters in 2021) and David Moran (leading Group 1-winning driver for pacers in 2021) were also acknowledged.

John Campbell, Barry Delaney, Helen Head, Colin Holloway, John Peck and Neil Richmond were the Distinguished Service Award recipients for 2021.

ANTHONY BUTT

ANNE-MAREE CONROY

EMMA STEWART

CHRIS ALFORD