Harness Racing Victoria has announced the introduction of the Greg Sugars Medal, to be awarded annually to the leading driver of the Summer Of Glory carnival, commencing in 2027.
The medal will be awarded in perpetuity in honour of the late Greg Sugars, who passed away suddenly in his sleep on April 26, 2025, aged 40. Widely regarded as one of the finest drivers the sport has seen, Sugars’ legacy is defined by extraordinary success and professionalism at the highest level.
His career achievements include:
• 4,028 driving wins in Australia
• 70 Group 1 victories across Australia and New Zealand
• 2014–15 Victorian State Drivers’ Premiership
• 2011–12 Victorian Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership
• Three consecutive Inter Dominion trotting championships
• Representation of Australia at the prestigious Elitloppet in Sweden in 2023, including multiple placings with Just Believe
Sugars’ impact on the harness racing community remains profound, particularly for his partner Jess Tubbs and his family, father Ross, mother Kerry, and sister Kylie.
The Greg Sugars Medal will provide an enduring tribute, recognising excellence among his driving peers while celebrating the skill, competitiveness and success that defined his career, particularly across Victoria’s biggest races.
Jess Tubbs welcomed the announcement.
“This is a wonderful way for the harness racing community to remember Greg, it means a lot to me and I know he would be chuffed with that,” Tubbs said. “He enjoyed so much success during the big carnivals, winning many of his Group 1 races. To be commemorated through Victoria’s biggest races is a fitting tribute and something that I hope the drivers strive towards winning.”
Following the successful reinvigoration of the Summer Of Glory carnival in 2026, which attracted leading participants from across Australia and internationally, the inclusion of the Greg Sugars Medal ensures his name will remain a permanent part of the event’s future.
Points for the medal will be awarded on a 3-2-1 basis across Group-level feature races for pacers, trotters and mares throughout the carnival.
Harness Racing Victoria CEO Matt Isaacs said the medal was a meaningful way to honour Sugars’ legacy.
“Greg will always be remembered as a wonderful ambassador for harness racing in Victoria and across the world,” Isaacs said. “Nearly 12 months on, the industry still feels his loss, and we hope the Greg Sugars Medal goes some way to connecting his driving peers with his memory and remarkable achievements.”
The inaugural winner will be presented with the specially crafted medal following the final feature, the Great Southern Star, at Melton Entertainment Park on February 13, 2027.
