One of Victoria’s quiet achievers, Elmore trainer Graeme Johannessen, passed on Tuesday February 6 at age 83.
Graeme was a master of his trade and had success with a number of horses, none better than champion trotter True Roman, a winner of 73 races including the 1988 Melbourne Inter Dominion and Australasian Trotters Championship.
Others included inaugural Redwood winner Young Trooper, Hokum, Aim First, Marching Order (SA Derby), Fighting Harada, Druid (Leeton MIA Breeders Plate), Polka Lass and Tam Oshanter.
Since 1980-81, Graeme had 600 training wins from 3777 starters, who also ran 1018 placings and collected $2.3 million for connections. That included a personal best 48 wins in the 1978-88 season, 15 of which were produced by True Roman, who was inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.
Graeme also drove 15 winners, but gifted the majority of the driving responsibilities to Gavin Lang, who had a long affiliation with the stable.
Graeme’s funeral will be at Mulqueen’s 15-25 Bridge St, Bendigo, at 2pm Monday, February 19.
Photo courtesy Bendigo Advertiser.
