Less than a month after brilliant trotting mare Scotch Notch was elevated to Legend status in the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame, her owner Jim Wong has passed at age 96.
While illness prevented Jim from attending the Hall of Fame dinner, he would have been filled with pride about Scotch Notch’s elevation, having been the gem of his long passion for harness racing.
Primarily prepared by Graeme Lang, Scotch Notch was a two-time Inter Dominion Trotting Championship winner and three-time Australian Trotter of the Year, with Jim joining Lang in New York to watch her race the world’s best. She would stay on with trainer Mike Gagliardi to build her career wins to 65 and earnings to $670,755.
Jim was a well-known Goulburn Valley businessman in Shepparton (Wong’s World), who was elected a most popular president of the Shepparton Trotting Club and served in the late ’60s through to the ’70s, after being on the committee for several years.
Jim made many friends through the sport and they all enjoyed many happy moments together, particularly through the many horses he raced. He was a regular race day attendee, trying to “beat the bookies”, and did so on several occasions.
Shifting to Essendon, Jim loved the surrounds and managed the driving range at Riverside Golf Club in Ascot Vale, forming long-time friendships with many golfing enthusiasts.
Harness Racing Victoria extends sincere condolences to his wife Margot, the Wong family and his friends.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be announced in the weeks ahead.
