Harness racing is mourning the loss of a legend, with famed trainer and driver Graeme Lang having died at age 87.
Celebrated as a doyen of harness racing, a brilliant trainer and driver, and the father of two of the sport’s greats, the late Gavin Lang and Chris Lang, Graeme built an enormous legacy which would see him bestowed as the 2013 Gordon Rothacker Medallist and a 1998 inductee into the Caduceus Club’s Hall of Fame.
Lang was one of the game’s elite horseman from the late ‘60s through to the ‘80s, and will be most remembered for training brilliant squaregaiter Scotch Notch.
The Inter Dominion Trotting Champion dual winner and three-time Australian Trotter of the Year shared the virtues of Australian harness racing with the world during a North American tour in 1985, going on to win 18 of her 60 starts.
WATCH THIS TVNZ 1983 PRODUCTION ON SCOTCH NOTCH:
Lang’s brilliance would spread much further, having been five times Victoria’s leading trainer, twice crowned Vicroria’s leading driver and in 1979-80 the leading Australian driver.
Notable more recent victories include Innocent Eyes in the 2006 Chariots Of Fire, Persistency in the Oceania Eldorado 3YO colts and geldings final at Moonee Valley in 1998, Fellas Pride in the 1992 New South Wales Derby, Im Yosemite Sam in the 2005 Tasmanian Derby, Innocent Eyes and Batavia Hotwire in Vicbred Super Series finals, and Deanna Troy in the Ladyship Mile.
Graeme’s first win was reportedly with Vindason at Horsham on May 1, 1954, and his last was with Save Our Pennys on January 19, 2019, when his son Gavin steered the talented trotter to victory in the E B Cochran Trotters Cup on Ballarat Pacing Cup night.
WATCH GRAEME’S LAST VICTORY, FEATURING GAVIN IN THE SULKY:
Harness Racing Victoria extends its condolences to Graeme Lang's friends, family and fans.
READ MORE: TRIBUTES FLOW FOR GRAEME LANG WHO WAS A NOTCH ABOVE