Champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning will be honoured through the establishment of a new Trotting Mares’ Triple Crown series in Victoria.

Following the success of the Elizabeth Clarke Pacing Mares’ Triple Crown in recent years, Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has established a trotting equivalent.

Kicking off with the $50,000 Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed Gold Series Final (Group 1) over 1720m on Saturday night, the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares’ Triple Crown will then take in the $30,000 La Coocaracha Trotters’ Free-for-All (Group 2) over 2240m on March 12 and the $50,000 Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters’ Free-for-All (Group 1) over 2760m on March 26.

The La Coocaracha race holds extra special affinity with Manning, who piloted the champion trotting mare 21 times for 16 wins from 2001 to 2004.

“I feel extremely privileged and humbled by the honour,” said Manning, whose name also permanently adorns the women’s driver room at Tabcorp Park Melton.

“It’s funny because when I walk into the drivers’ room at Melton, I rarely look at the door. When I do though, and I see my name on it, it does all come back … and it’s really nice to be reminded of that.”

“It’s pretty special.”

If a trotting mare is able to complete the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares’ Triple Crown by winning all three races of the series, a $20,000 bonus will be payable to the winning horse’s owner.

A $10,000 bonus will be payable to the owner of the horse which accrues the highest number of points throughout the series, with each race carrying eight points to the winner, five points to the second placegetter, three points to third, two points to fourth and one point to fifth.

The first leg of the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares’ Triple Crown will be conducted on an all-trotting card, Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed Finals Night at Melton on Saturday, February 26, which will feature two Group 1 races.

The program will also showcase a new three-year-old trotters’ race, the $30,000 Lunar Lass Trotters Classic (Group 2).

Lunar Lass became the first filly to win the Victoria Trotters’ Oaks and Victoria Trotters’ Derby in the same year when she achieved the double in 1984.

Kerryn Manning snapshot

Born: July 10, 1976
First Drive: March 18, 1993 (7th aboard Gorgeous Gambit at Stawell)
First Winner: May 27, 1993 (aboard Gorgeous Gambit at Ararat)
Australian Drives: 17,793
Wins: 4096

Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares’ Triple Crown

  • $50,000 Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed Gold Series Final (Group 1) over 1720m at Melton (February 26)
  • $30,000 La Coocaracha Trotters Free for All (Group 2) over 2240m at Melton (March 12)
  • $50,000 Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters Free for All (Group 1) over 2760m at Melton (March 26)