The harness racing community is mourning the loss of respected Sunraysia horseman Jeff Gadsden, who passed away last week after a training accident at his Merbein property.
Gadsden, 75, sustained spinal injuries in a fall while jogging a horse on August 16 and was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where he spent 10 days before passing away surrounded by his family on August 26.
A participant in harness racing for more than four decades, Gadsden was enjoying his most successful season as a trainer in 2025, with a personal-best nine winners. Among them was promising three-year-old To The Nines, who has collected five wins and four placings from 15 starts this season.
“He would never say much, never go on about how good the horse was going – you just had to go off the vibe,” son Michael said.
“But I know he was chuffed with To The Nines. When he broke him in Dad always thought he would be a nice horse and he was very proud of him, in his quiet way.”
Gadsden’s involvement in the sport began in the late 1970s, when he and wife Jennie were growing dried fruit at Robinvale. After initially leasing a pacer, Jeff was given an opportunity by local horseman Alby Adcock with a horse named Beau Walk.
He trained his first winner with Beau Walk at Nyah in December 1980, and the gelding later became Jeff’s trusted clerk-of-course mount at Robinvale’s popular picnic meetings.
From the moment he sat behind a pacer, harness racing was in Jeff’s blood. He developed a reputation as a fine breaker and skilled farrier, all self-taught or learnt from others around him. For him, the joy was never just in the racing itself, but in the work of bringing out the best in the horse.
“Even when he was in hospital after the accident, he was telling the nurses how beautiful horses are – that unless you work with them, you wouldn’t understand how magnificent they are,” Michael said.
Harness racing became a family pursuit. Jeff served on the Robinvale club committee, including terms as vice president, and was later honoured with life membership, while Jennie supported through the ladies’ auxiliary.
After Jeff and Jennie sold their Robinvale property about five years ago, they moved to a small block at Merbein, where he jogged a small team on a track around the vines. It was during this time that Jeff enjoyed his best results as a trainer, with horses such as Little Believer, Mustang Max, and the consistent Im Stuck Man, who went on to be crowned Mildura Horse of the Year in 2023.
“Im Stuck Man won horse of the year at Mildura and Dad commented it had taken 44 years to get there,” Michael said.
“They all knew what a great breaker and farrier he was – so it was gratifying that he finally got some nicer stock, and they performed like he thought they could.”
Michael said during his 10 days in hospital, Jeff was able to share final conversations with his family, including Jennie, Michael and Lucinda.
“He said he’d had the best five years of his life since he and Mum retired, spending more time doing what he really loved – his horses and his grandkids,” Michael said.
“He adored his grandkids. He was so happy that Emily and I are expecting a baby in December – I think he’d almost given up on me!”
Jeff is survived by his wife Jennie, son Michael and his partner Emily, daughter Lucinda and her husband Luke, and his grandchildren.
Harness Racing Victoria Chair Bernard Saundry, on behalf of the industry, extends his sincere condolences to the Gadsden family.
Funeral details will be confirmed at McGlynn Hunt Funerals Mildura.
