International eyes are squarely focused on Victorian trotting, says Duncan McPherson, and tomorrow night’s all-squaregaiting card at Bendigo presents an opportunity to reinforce how far the industry’s come.
The Aldebaran Park principal joined host Jason Bonnington on SENTrack’s Trots Life today to talk about the 11-race card at Lords Raceway, which includes new Group 3 two-year-old trotting miles.
“There’s been some recognition on the other side of the world that we are the place to be,” McPherson said.
“I’ve rung a number of studs in the last three or four days to start spruiking (Victoria’s forthcoming trotting) carnival and they are all aware of where Australian trotting is now fitting as part of the global brand.”
McPherson was a key driver in setting the groundwork for tomorrow night’s carnival, siting the need for two-year-olds to be able to run quick miles on a fast track.
With Harness Racing Victoria, the proposal has evolved to honour Graeme Lang and Gavin Lang, two trotting greats who passed earlier this year.
“The Lang dynasty is second to none in Australian trotting and harness racing,” McPherson said.
“When I first mooted a few months ago that we might have an all-trotting night … the objective being we have two-year-old and three-year-old flying miles, where we blackbook horses and try and have Australasian trotting records over the mile at the premier speed track in Victoria.
“It then lent itself, obviously, due to the circumstances that we changed the emphasis and … make it an on-going recognition of both Graeme and Gavin Lang.”
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO DUNCAN ON TROTS LIFE:
Trots Life is on SENTrack weekdays from 11am-1pm. Click here to bookmark the live stream.
